Cook County, IL Mobility & Curb Rules: Red-Light Cameras (2026)
Key Facts
- Base fine
- $100.00 per violation
- Late penalty
- additional $100.00
- Administered by
- Highway Dept. and Sheriff
- Municipal opt-out
- by Resolution, Code § 82-206(c)
- State authority
- 625 ILCS 5/11-208.6
Summary
Cook County runs its own automated red light camera program on county-maintained highways under Code §§ 82-206–82-209, fining registered owners $100 per violation, with municipalities free to opt their intersections out.
The registered owner of record of a vehicle is liable for a violation of Section 11-208.6 of the Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/11-208.6, and a fine of $100.00 when the vehicle is used in violation of Section 11-305 or Section 11-306 of the Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/11-305 and 306, and that violation is recorded by a traffic-control signal monitoring device. If the registered owner fails to pay the fine in a timely manner, the registered owner shall be subject to an additional penalty of $100.00.
Full Breakdown
The Highway Department, working with the Sheriff, operates traffic-control signal monitoring cameras at intersections along roads under the County's maintenance jurisdiction, not every street in the County. A registered owner caught running a red light on camera owes a $100 fine under § 82-207, plus an extra $100 penalty if it isn't paid on time. A municipality can enter an intergovernmental agreement to install and run its own camera at a county-jurisdiction intersection within its borders, keeping the fines, or pass a Resolution opting any of its intersections out of the County's program entirely. Recognized defenses include a stolen-plate report or proof the vehicle was under lease at the time.
Violations & Fines
Registered owner is fined $100 per red-light violation caught by a monitoring camera, plus an additional $100 if the fine goes unpaid past the deadline; the Sheriff mails the citation within 30 days of getting the owner's information from the Secretary of State.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my municipality opt out of the County's red light cameras?
How much is the fine, and does it grow if I don't pay?
Is there a defense if my plates were stolen?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cook County
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