Chicago Traffic Ticket Records

Chicago traffic ticket records cover parking violations, red light camera tickets, speed camera tickets, and moving violations. With a population of 2.7 million, Chicago has one of the most complex ticket systems in the country. The Department of Finance handles parking, red light, and speed camera tickets through the CHIPAY portal. Moving violations go through the Cook County Circuit Court at the Daley Center. This page covers all the ways to find, pay, and contest Chicago traffic ticket records.

Chicago Department of Finance

The Chicago Department of Finance runs the ticket system for parking, red light cameras, and speed cameras. The main office is at 121 N. LaSalle Street, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602. Customer service is at 312-744-7275. General phone is 312-744-2204. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except holidays. Mail payments to Department of Finance, P.O. Box 6289, Chicago, IL 60680-6289.

For payment disputes that you cannot resolve by phone, write to the Payment Escalation Unit at City of Chicago Department of Finance, P.O. Box 806407, Chicago, IL 60680-4125. If your account has been sent to collections, the agency depends on your last name. Last names A through E and L through T go to Harris and Harris at 312-604-7100. Last names F through K and U through Z go to Mintex Inc. at 888-272-1170. Collection costs are 22% of the balance, but that fee gets waived if you sign up for a payment plan.

Pay Chicago Parking Tickets

The pay tickets online page walks you through the process. Go to CHIPAY at chipay.chicago.gov and search by license plate number or driver's license number. Pay by credit card. There are no service fees for online payments. Parking tickets are available in the system right away.

In-person payment locations include City Hall at 121 N. LaSalle, Room 107 (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), 2550 W. Addison on the north side, 2006 E. 95th Street on the south side, and 4770 S. Kedzie Ave. on the southwest side. Mail payments to the Department of Finance P.O. Box address. Include the ticket or violation notice stub. Make your check payable to City of Chicago Department of Finance. Do not send cash.

Here are some common parking fines in Chicago. An expired meter outside the central business district is $50. In the central business district it is $70. A street cleaning violation is $50. Rush hour parking is $100. Parking in a disabled spot is $150. Parking by a fire hydrant costs $150. Double parking outside the central business district is $100, but downtown it goes up to $250. A bus lane violation is $90. Late penalties double the original fine. You have 25 days from the decision date to pay before the ticket doubles.

Chicago Red Light Camera Traffic Ticket Records

Chicago has 149 intersections with red light cameras. The fine is $100 per violation. A late penalty of $100 is added if you do not pay on time. Red light camera tickets are civil matters under 625 ILCS 5/11-208.6 and do not go on your driving record. The red light camera enforcement page has details on how the system works.

You can view the violation video and photos online. The violation video and photos page requires your license plate number and citation number. Streaming video is available for 30 days. The violation video stays available for two years. You have 21 days from the violation notice to pay or contest. You can contest by mail, online, or in person at a hearing.

According to city data comparing 2005 to 2024, red light cameras reduced dangerous right-angle crashes to 57% of prior levels. All crashes at camera intersections dropped to 49%. Crashes with injuries went down to 26%. Pedestrian crashes fell to 35%.

Chicago Speed Camera Tickets

Speed cameras in Chicago are part of the Children's Safety Zone Program. They are placed near schools and parks. The fine is $35 for going 6 to 10 mph over the speed limit. Going 11 or more mph over the limit costs $100. Late penalties match the original fine amount. The automated speed enforcement FAQ explains the program.

School zone cameras run on school days, Monday through Friday. From 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. the limit is 20 mph when children are present. From 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. the posted speed limit applies, usually 30 mph. Park zone cameras run 365 days a year, typically from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. New cameras have a 30-day warning period. Each license plate also gets one additional warning notice for the first violation. You can view the speed enforcement video at the speed enforcement video page.

The camera system uses high-resolution digital video and still photography with 3D tracking radar. Two consecutive still images are produced. The first shows the vehicle entering the zone over the speed limit. The second validates the speed. A close-up of the license plate is taken from one of the images. A high-definition video clip is also captured. Speed camera images are confidential and only available to the alleged violator and government agencies.

Chicago Traffic Ticket Payment Plans

The payment plan options page has full details. Chicago has two main plans. The Early Payment Plan is for tickets in violation or determination status. You get up to 24 months to pay. The down payment can be as low as $25. No penalty is added if you finish the plan. The Standard Payment Plan is for tickets in final or seizure status. You get up to 24 months, or 60 months with hardship. It waives the 22% collection cost and prevents booting.

You can enroll in a plan online at the parking ticket payment plan portal. Have your driver's license number or notice number ready. If you do not have a personal computer, any Chicago Public Library has computers you can use for free. If you have been defaulted from three payment plans, you need to work with the collection agency assigned to your account.

If you overpay on a month, the extra amount applies to your next monthly payment. If you pay on the wrong plan by mistake, call customer service at 312-744-7275 for help.

Chicago Traffic Ticket Hearings

The Department of Administrative Hearings runs three locations. The Central Hearing Facility is at 400 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60654. The phone is 312-742-4747. Operating hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hearings run Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for boot hearings and water debt cases only.

The Northwest Hearing Facility is at 4445 North Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60630. The phone is 312-742-2553. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The South Hearing Facility is at 2006 East 95th Street, Chicago, IL 60617. The phone is 312-745-2012, same hours. If you missed your hearing, you must file a motion to set aside the default in person at the Central Hearing Facility. You cannot do it by phone, fax, or mail. There is no fee for filing this motion.

Moving violations in Chicago are heard at the Cook County Circuit Court Traffic Section in the Richard J. Daley Center, Courtroom 400, at 50 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602. Court hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Court calls start at 9:00 a.m. with a lunch recess from noon to 1:00 p.m. For more on Cook County traffic court, see the Cook County traffic ticket records page.

Chicago Traffic Ticket Scam Warning

The City of Chicago warns about phishing scams. Malicious parties pretend to be the city and try to trick you into clicking links or giving up personal info. If you get a suspicious email or text about a ticket, do not click any links. Go directly to chicago.gov/parking in your browser. Make sure the web address shows chicago.gov. The city will never ask for your social security number or bank login through email or text.

The registered owner of a vehicle is always responsible for parking violations, no matter who was driving. Tickets can be issued every day until compliance. You can get multiple parking tickets at the same expired meter if you stay past the time limit. Contesting a ticket to buy time does not work. In fact, you may be billed faster. Use a payment plan instead if you need more time.

Nearby Cities

These cities are also in the Chicago area. Moving violations in all of these go through the Cook County Circuit Court system.