Rule 530.Written Pleas of Guilty in Conservation Offenses
Article V. Rules on Trial Court Proceedings in Traffic and Conservation Offenses, Ordinance Offenses, Petty Offenses, Misdemeanors, and Civil Law Violations · Part C. Fines, Penalties and Costs · Last amended 2023 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 530 gives the same mail-in guilty plea option to people cited for conservation offenses — fishing, hunting, and boating violations — as long as the charge doesn't require a court appearance.
(a)Conservation Offenses. Conservation offenses, as defined in section 1-5 of the Criminal
and Traffic Assessment Act (705 ILCS 135/1-5) classified as petty, business, class B misdemeanor, or Class C misdemeanor and that do not require a court appearance under Rule 551, may be satisfied without a court appearance by a written plea of guilty, including electronic pleas as authorized by the Supreme Court, and payment of an amount equal to the Schedule 11 assessment, as provided in section 15-55 of the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act (705 ILCS 135/15-55). If the defendant fails to satisfy the charges and fails to appear at the court appearance, the court shall address the charges in accordance with Rule 556. No other fines, fees, penalties, assessments, or costs shall be assessed in any case that is disposed of on a written plea of guilty without a court appearance under this Rule 530.
(b)The provisions of Supreme Court Rule 402 relating to pleas of guilty do not apply in cases where a defendant enters a guilty plea under this Rule 530. The clerk of the circuit court shall disburse monies collected under this Rule 530 in accordance with the Schedule 11 assessment, as provided in section 15-55 of the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act (705 ILCS 135/15-55).
Plain-English Summary
Rule 530 mirrors Rule 529 for conservation charges. Someone cited for a petty, business, or lower-level misdemeanor conservation offense — the categories defined in Rule 501 — can resolve the case without appearing in court by submitting a written guilty plea, including an electronic one where authorized, and paying the Schedule 11 assessment.
The offense has to be one that doesn't already require a court appearance under Rule 551. No other fines, fees, or costs get tacked on beyond the set assessment, and, as with minor traffic tickets, the guilty-plea protections in Rule 402 don't apply since there's no hearing.
If the person doesn't pay and doesn't show up, the case follows the failure-to-appear procedure in Rule 556.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conservation violations qualify for a written guilty plea?
Petty, business, or lower-level misdemeanor conservation offenses defined in Rule 501(c) that don't require a court appearance under Rule 551.
How much will I pay?
The Schedule 11 assessment set out in the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act, with no other fees or costs added.
What happens if I don't pay and don't appear?
The court follows the failure-to-appear procedure spelled out in Rule 556.
Is this the same process as a traffic ticket?
It works the same way, but with a different fee schedule and a rule written specifically for conservation charges.
Do I lose any rights by pleading guilty this way?
You don't get the formal admonishments a judge gives before accepting a guilty plea in court, since Rule 402 doesn't apply to pleas resolved this way.
Amendment History
Adopted Mar. 8, 2019, eff. July 1, 2019; amended Dec. 9, 2020, eff. Jan. 1, 2021; amended July 20, 2021, eff. immediately; amended Oct. 27, 2022, eff. Sept. 18, 2023.
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:fishing violation ticket Illinoishunting citation plead guiltyconservation offense fine paymentDNR ticket Illinois pay onlineboating violation ticket Illinois