CHAPTER 11 - RULES OF THE ROAD
Also Known As: School Zone Speeding, Speeding School Zone, 20 mph School Zone

625 ILCS 5/11-605

Sec. 11-605. Special speed limit while passing schools.

Illinois Compiled Statute
625 ILCS 5/11-605
Offense Description
Speeding – school zone (6:30 AM –4:00 PM)
Offense Classification
Class A Misdemeanor
Statutory Penalties & Sentencing Scope
Up to 364 days county jail · Fine up to $2,500
Supreme Court Rule 551 Mandatory Court Appearance
Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, personal court appearance before a judge is mandatory. The defendant cannot satisfy this charge by mail, electronic payment, or pre-set bail forfeiture.
SAFE-T Act Pretrial Detention Eligibility (725 ILCS 5/110-6.1)
Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.
Secretary of State Driver's License Action
SOS Administrative Action: Moving Violation (Point Assessment & Suspension Counter) · Conviction counts toward Illinois SOS license suspension threshold (3 convictions in 12 months for age 21+; 2 convictions in 24 months for under 21).
EXECUTIVE SYNOPSIS · ILLINOIS LEGAL STANDARDS Governing Authority: ILGA & Supreme Court Rules

Under Illinois law, 625 ILCS 5/11-605 (Speeding – school zone (6:30 AM –4:00 PM)) is classified as a Class A Misdemeanor. Statutory sentencing scope: Up to 364 days county jail · Fine up to $2,500. Court appearance is mandatory under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, and pretrial release is presumptively release-eligible under the SAFE-T Act.

Offense Class & Sentencing Scope Class A Misdemeanor

Up to 364 days county jail · Fine up to $2,500

Court Appearance Mandate Rule 551 Mandatory Court

Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, personal court appearance before a judge is mandatory. The defendant cannot satisfy this charge by mail, electronic payment, or pre-set bail forfeiture.

Pretrial Fairness Act (SAFE-T Act) Presumptive Pretrial Release

Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.

Secretary of State License Sanction SOS Administrative Action

Moving Violation (Point Assessment & Suspension Counter) · Conviction counts toward Illinois SOS license suspension threshold (3 convictions in 12 months for age 21+; 2 convictions in 24 months for under 21).

Classification Class A Misdemeanor
Court Appearance Mandatory Court Appearance (Rule 551)
SAFE-T Act Detention Release Eligible (Conditions Apply)
SOS Reporting Code 6603

Associated Offense Codes & Classifications (1)

Offense Description Class Court Mandate SAFE-T Act Reporting Code Official ILGA
Speeding – school zone (6:30 AM –4:00 PM) Official ILGA · 625 ILCS 5/11-605 -> Class A Misdemeanor Rule 551 Mandate Release Eligible 6603 ILGA.gov ->

Illinois General Assembly Statutory Text (Verbatim)

Source: ilga.gov ->

Sec. 11-605. Special speed limit while passing schools.

(a)

(a) For the purpose of this Section, "school" means the following entities:

(1)

(1) A public or private primary or secondary school.

(2)

(2) A primary or secondary school operated by a religious institution. (3) A public, private, or religious nursery school.

On a school day when school children are present and so close thereto that a potential hazard exists because of the close proximity of the motorized traffic, no person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed in excess of 20 miles per hour while passing a school zone or while traveling on a local, county, or State roadway on public school property or upon any public thoroughfare where children pass going to and from school.

For the purpose of this Section, a school day begins at 6:30 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m.

This Section shall not be applicable unless appropriate signs are posted upon streets and highways under their respective jurisdiction and maintained by the Department, township, county, park district, city, village or incorporated town wherein the school zone is located. With regard to the special speed limit while passing schools, such signs shall give proper due warning that a school zone is being approached and shall indicate the school zone and the maximum speed limit in effect during school days when school children are present.

(b)

(b) (Blank).

(c)

(c) Nothing in this Chapter shall prohibit the use of electronic speed-detecting devices within 500 feet of signs within a special school speed zone indicating such zone, as defined in this Section, nor shall evidence obtained thereby be inadmissible in any prosecution for speeding provided the use of such device shall apply only to the enforcement of the speed limit in such special school speed zone.

(d)

(d) (Blank).

(e)

(e) Except as provided in subsection (e-5), a person who violates this Section is guilty of a petty offense. Violations of this Section are punishable with a minimum fine of $150 for the first violation, a minimum fine of $300 for the second or subsequent violation, and community service in an amount determined by the court.

(e-5) A person committing a violation of this Section is guilty of aggravated special speed limit while passing schools when he or she drives a motor vehicle at a speed that is:

(1)

(1) 26 miles per hour or more but less than 35 miles per hour in excess of the applicable special speed limit established under this Section or a similar provision of a local ordinance and is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor; or (2) 35 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable special speed limit established under this Section or a similar provision of a local ordinance and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (f) (Blank).

(g)

(g) (Blank).

(h)

(h) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 102-58, eff. 7-9-21; 102-859, eff. 1-1-23; 102-978, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

Frequently Asked Questions & Legal Analysis

Authoritative Statutory Guidance
What is the statutory penalty and sentencing range for 625 ILCS 5/11-605 in Illinois?

Under Illinois law, 625 ILCS 5/11-605 (Speeding – school zone (6:30 AM –4:00 PM)) is classified as a Class A Misdemeanor.

Sentencing Scope: Up to 364 days county jail · Fine up to $2,500

Is a court appearance mandatory for 625 ILCS 5/11-605 under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551?

Mandatory Personal Appearance Required: Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, personal court appearance before a judge is mandatory. The defendant cannot satisfy this charge by mail, electronic payment, or pre-set bail forfeiture.

Is an individual accused of 625 ILCS 5/11-605 detainable before trial under the SAFE-T Act?

Presumptive Pretrial Release: Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.

What Secretary of State driver's license sanctions apply to 625 ILCS 5/11-605?

SOS Administrative Action: Moving Violation (Point Assessment & Suspension Counter) · Conviction counts toward Illinois SOS license suspension threshold (3 convictions in 12 months for age 21+; 2 convictions in 24 months for under 21).

Official Legal Citation Formats

Legal & Academic Reference

Standardized legal citations for briefs, court pleadings, law enforcement documentation, and academic research.

Illinois Supreme Court Citation 625 ILCS 5/11-605 (West 2026)
The Bluebook Style (21st ed.) 625 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/11-605 (2026)
Canonical Web Reference https://ilcsindex.com/statutes/625-ilcs-5-11-605
Cross-Referenced ILCS Codes