Article V. Rules on Trial Court Proceedings in Traffic and Conservation Offenses, Ordinance Offenses, Petty Offenses, Misdemeanors, and Civil Law Violations · Part A. General · Last amended 2025 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 504 sets the window for a first court date on a traffic or conservation ticket — no less than 14 and no more than 60 days after the arrest.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 504
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The date set by the arresting officer or the clerk of the circuit court for an accused’s first
appearance in court shall be not less than 14 days but within 60 days after the date of the arrest, whenever practicable. It is the policy of this court that, if the arresting agency has been exempted from the requirements of Rule 505, an accused who appears and pleads “not guilty” to an alleged traffic or conservation offense punishable by fine only should be granted a trial on the merits on the appearance date or, if the accused demands a trial by jury, within a reasonable time thereafter. A failure to appear on the first appearance date by an arresting officer from a Rule 505 exempted agency shall, in and of itself, not normally be considered good cause for a continuance.
Plain-English Summary
When an officer or the circuit clerk sets your first court date on a traffic or conservation charge, Rule 504 puts limits on how soon or how late that date can fall: never less than 14 days after the arrest, and never more than 60, whenever that's practical.
The rule also states a policy for that first appearance. If you plead not guilty to a fine-only traffic or conservation charge, and the arresting agency has been exempted from the notice requirements in Rule 505, the court should try to give you a trial on the merits that same day — or, if you've demanded a jury, within a reasonable time after.
One protection cuts the other way: if the arresting officer from an exempt agency doesn't show up on that first date, that absence alone usually won't count as good cause for a continuance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after my arrest will I get a court date?
Not less than 14 days and not more than 60 days after the arrest, whenever that's practical for the court and the arresting agency.
Who sets my first court appearance date?
Either the arresting officer or the clerk of the circuit court.
Can I get a trial the same day I plead not guilty?
The court's policy favors that outcome for fine-only traffic or conservation charges, when the arresting agency has been exempted from Rule 505's notice requirements.
What if the officer doesn't show up on my first court date?
If the agency is exempt from Rule 505, that absence alone usually won't count as good cause for a continuance.
Does Rule 504 apply to parking or other ordinance tickets?
No, it only governs traffic and conservation offenses, not ordinance violations under Part E.
Amendment History
Amended effective October 7, 1970; amended February 17, 1977, effective April 1, 1977, in counties other than Cook, effective July 1, 1977, in Cook County; amended December 22, 1981, effective January 15, 1982; amended November 21, 1988, effective December 1, 1988; amended June 19, 1989, effective August 1, 1989; amended May 24, 1995, effective January 1, 1996; amended Oct. 27, 2022, eff. Sept. 18, 2023; amended June 3, 2025; eff. immediately.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:traffic ticket court date Illinoishow long until court date after a ticketfirst appearance traffic offensearraignment date traffic ticket