Determine Your “Course” of Action

Illinois offers drivers a traffic safety school via the Northwestern University for Public Safety. Some judges offer drivers the option to take this course in lieu of receiving a conviction (and points) on their driving records.

The school is available on a volunteer basis, and some drivers are eligible to enroll for point reduction or auto insurance discounts.

To know for sure whether point reduction is an option for you, ask your judge (if it’s violation based) or contact the SOS (if it’s point based).

Complete a IL Traffic Safety School

Whether enrolling in traffic safety school is an option for avoiding convictions on driving records is up to the court. Generally, it depends on where the driver was ticketed.

Submit Requirements to the Court

If you’re eligible for a traffic safety school, most likely the court will have you complete the registration and send it or deliver it with the traffic ticket fine (and any other required surcharges).

You’ll be made aware of how long you have to complete the course, and once you complete it, you’ll be provided with a completion certificate to show as proof to the court. Also ask your traffic school about receiving a completion certificate you can submit to your auto insurance provider for a possible discount.

Check Your Illinois Driving Record

Once you complete traffic safety school and submit requirements to the court, order a copy of your driving record to make sure it reflects your course completion and does not show the traffic conviction or any associated points. If it does, contact the court that handled your ticket as well as the traffic school.

Get an Auto Insurance Discount

Some auto insurance companies provide discounts to drivers who complete safety schools. Contact your provider to find out if completing the state-approved traffic safety school makes you eligible for such a discount. Be sure to hang on to your completion certificate, should your agent require it.