Evanston Traffic Ticket Records

Evanston traffic ticket records include parking violations, administrative citations, and moving violations. The city has a population of about 76,340 and sits in Cook County on Chicago's north border. Parking and ordinance violations go through the city's Administrative Adjudication system. Moving violations like speeding and DUI go through the Cook County Circuit Court. Evanston runs a 311 service for general inquiries about any ticket or city matter. This page covers all the payment options, hearing locations, and deadlines for Evanston traffic ticket records.

Evanston 311 and Contact Info

Evanston 311 is the starting point for any question about traffic ticket records in the city. Dial 311 from within Evanston or call (847) 448-4311 from outside. You can also text the same number. The Evanston 311 Knowledge Base has answers to common questions and lets you submit requests online.

The City Collector's Office handles parking tickets and wheel tax payments. The office is at 909 Davis Street, Room 1300, Evanston, IL 60201. As of March 31, 2025, it moved to the Lorraine H. Morton City Hall at the same address. For traffic citation questions, email trafficticket@cityofevanston.org. Include your contact info and ticket number in the email.

The Traffic Bureau is part of the Evanston Police Department at 1454 Elmwood, Evanston, IL 60201. The phone is (847) 866-5064. Traffic Engineering is at (847) 866-2922. If you have issues with speeding in your neighborhood, you can report it to the Traffic Unit and they may send out an illuminated speed sign to monitor traffic. The Police Records Section is at the same address, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Pay Evanston Traffic Ticket Records

Parking tickets can be paid online, by mail, in person, or by phone. The Evanston parking ticket payment portal is available around the clock. By mail, send a check or money order to the Collector's Office at 909 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201. In person, visit the Collector's Office on the second floor of City Hall. By phone, call 844-206-8080. Use your ticket number as the account number and enter zip code 60201.

Administrative citations for non-parking violations have a separate online portal. This covers citations from the Police Department, Property Standards, and Animal Control. It does not cover moving violations or parking tickets. Those each have their own system. The Evanston permit payment portal handles certain city payments as well.

Traffic crash reports cost $5.00 per copy. Get them at the Police Records Section, 1454 Elmwood, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Evanston Document Center has forms and documents available for download.

Evanston Administrative Hearings

The Administrative Adjudication system in Evanston has been in place since January 1, 2000. Hearings take place on the 2nd floor of the Lorraine H. Morton City Hall at 909 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201. The phone is (847) 448-8163. The fax is 847-448-8164. Many ordinance violations that used to go to Cook County Circuit Court have been moved to this system.

Cases are heard by Administrative Law Judges from the Division of Administrative Hearings. The city agency that issued the ticket is not the same agency that hears the case. That means the hearings are independent. The burden of proof is preponderance of the evidence, which means "more likely than not." Possible outcomes include fines, costs, liens, orders to stop the violation, or dismissal.

You can contest a parking ticket two ways. Go to City Hall at 909 Davis Street and fill out a form. Or contest it online through the city website. Several motion forms are available for hearings. You can file a Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment if you missed your hearing. A Motion to Advance and Reset gets you a new hearing date. Request forms for tow hearings and boot hearings are also available. File by delivering or mailing to City of Evanston, ATTN: Administrative Adjudication, 909 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201. You can also fax to 847-448-8164, but verifying delivery is on you.

Evanston Wheel Tax and Vehicle Compliance

Evanston charges a wheel tax of $50 per vehicle. This went up from $24. Payment is due by September 30 each year. Late penalties apply after that date. Evanston uses a stickerless system since 2014, so no physical sticker is needed. Income-eligible seniors over 65 can get a discount. Pay online, in person at the Collector's Office, or by mail. New residents must get the wheel tax upon establishing residency.

Evanston has a boot program for vehicles with unpaid tickets. If your vehicle gets booted, an important rule applies: paying online does not automatically release the vehicle. You must contact customer service at 847-448-4311 after paying to get the boot removed. To request a boot hearing, fill out the form and submit it to Administrative Adjudication. You can also request a tow hearing through the same process.

Vehicles cannot be parked on a public street for more than seven days without being moved. If a vehicle sits longer than that, anyone can submit an abandoned vehicle service request. An officer will check on it and try to contact the owner. If they cannot reach the owner and the vehicle is in violation, it gets tagged for tow in seven days.

Cook County Court for Evanston Traffic Tickets

Moving violations in Evanston go through Cook County Circuit Court. If you got a court diversion envelope, follow the instructions on it and mail it to the Court Clerk. If there is a court date listed on the citation, you must appear on that date and time. If you posted your license or bond card, it gets returned by mail if you chose option A or B on the diversion envelope. If you chose option C or have a court date, your license is returned in court. The Cook County Traffic Clerk for the Skokie courthouse is at 5600 Old Orchard Rd, Skokie, IL, phone (847) 470-7250.

If you lost your copy of the citation, contact the Cook County Traffic Clerk at the Skokie courthouse for a replacement. For full info on Cook County traffic court, check the Cook County traffic ticket records page. DUI charges under 625 ILCS 5/11-501 are Class A misdemeanors for a first offense, with fines up to $2,500. Speeding 26 mph over the limit is a Class B misdemeanor under 625 ILCS 5/11-601. All vehicles need insurance under 625 ILCS 5/7-601.

The top traffic violations that cause crashes in Evanston are following too closely, unlawful speed, DUI, violation of right of way, and violation of traffic control devices like stop signs and red lights. If you are involved in a crash, check for injuries first and call 911 if needed. Then move vehicles from the roadway. Illinois law requires you to contact police if the crash involves injury, death, or property damage of at least $500. Have your license, registration, and proof of insurance ready.

Nearby Cities

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