About Traffic Safety School
The National Safety Council, the leader in driver safety courses, has partnered with the Circuit Court of Cook County to provide Traffic Safety School.
Whether you have received a traffic ticket or are ordered by a judge, NSC offers the courses that will help you improve your driving skills and meet the needs of your court supervision. Classes are available in English, Spanish and Polish.
Visit the NSC Cook County Traffic Safety School website for more information about:
- Code of Conduct
- Completion
- Courses
- FAQs
- How Tickets are Processed
- Classroom vs Online
Payment Information
If you select Option A or Option B on the ticket and choose to pay by mail, you must sign the guilty plea form where indicated, and:
- Mark the "PAYMENT ENCLOSED" box on the envelope.
- Make the check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court with the ticket number(s) written on the check or money order. (Current Illinois law does not allow payment by credit card.)
- Mail the check or money order for the total amount due along with the guilty plea form and Traffic Safety School registration, if applicable, to the Clerk of the Circuit Court within seven days.
- DO NOT SEND CASH.
Your payment will be processed and your driver's license or bond card along with a receipt for payment will be returned. Keep this receipt for two years. Information concerning attendance at the Traffic Safety School will be sent separately.
Eligibility for Traffic Safety School
A driver who has been assigned court supervision on two (2) occasions within twelve (12) months preceding the date of arrest is ineligible for a third assigned court supervision and will not qualify for court-ordered attendance at Traffic Safety School.
WARNING: Drivers who are ineligible to attend Traffic Safety School and select Option "B" will receive a conviction that will be reported to the Illinois Secretary of State and entered on their driving records.
A driver who holds a commercial driver's license (CDL), regardless of whether the vehicle being driven at the time the complaint was issued was commercial or non-commercial, is not eligible for Traffic Safety School and cannot choose Option "B." A driver who holds a CDL must choose Option "A" or Option "C" and should consider seeking legal counsel.
WARNING: Drivers who are ineligible to attend Traffic Safety School and select Option “B” will receive a conviction that will be reported to the Illinois Secretary of State and entered on their driving records.
A driver 21 years of age or older is eligible for the four-hour Traffic Safety School Defensive Driving Course if that person is not currently enrolled in the course and was not enrolled in the course within the previous 12 months.
If a person is found to be ineligible to attend the four-hour course, the Traffic Safety School will, in most cases, contact that individual and offer the opportunity to attend the eight-hour course. There is an additional $20.00 fee for the eight-hour course.
A person is ineligible for the eight-hour course if during the previous 12 months, he or she was enrolled or attended both the four-hour and eight-hour courses.
If a driver is found to be ineligible for both courses, a conviction will be entered and reported to the Illinois Secretary of State. Any overpayment, less a processing fee, will be refunded.
WARNING: Drivers who are ineligible to attend Traffic Safety School and select Option “B” will receive a conviction that will be reported to the Illinois Secretary of State and entered on their driving records.
Drivers under 21 years of age are governed by the Illinois Graduated Driver Licensing Law. Such drivers are eligible for Traffic Safety School under the same rules for drivers 21 years of age and older.
However, a driver under the age of 21 is ineligible for Traffic Safety School if he or she has been charged with one of the following violations:
- illegally transporting alcohol;
- passing or driving on the left side in a no-passing zone;
- improperly backing on a controlled access highway;
- failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian at a crosswalk or on a sidewalk;
- leaving the scene of a property damage accident;
- leaving the scene of an accident without giving aid or information;
- speeding more than 26 mph in excess of the speed limit;
- passing a school bus unloading children;
- reckless driving;
- failing to stop for an approaching train; or
- not having a valid driver’s license.
Persons falling into this category cannot receive an order of court supervision and are ineligible for assignment to either the four-hour or eight-hour traffic safety program.
WARNING: Drivers who are ineligible to attend Traffic Safety School and select Option “B” will receive a conviction that will be reported to the Illinois Secretary of State and entered on their driving records.