Administrative Hearings

SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY HEARINGS

The Safety Responsibility Law requires proof of insurance or the ability to pay for damages resulting from an accident within Illinois resulting in bodily injury or death of any person, or damage to the property of any one person in excess of $500.

Hearings are conducted to determine probable fault for motorists involved in crashes. An individual found at fault and not insured faces a license suspension of up to two years.

Safety Responsibility hearings must be requested in writing. Anyone requesting a hearing that is postmarked within 15 days of the mailing date of a suspension notice will be given a full hearing to contest the preliminary finding of the Secretary of State and the suspension will not be imposed pending the results of the hearing. Any request for a hearing postmarked after 15 days of the date of the notice of suspension will be accepted, however, the suspension will be imposed and not delayed pending the outcome of the hearing.

PLEASE NOTE: Any request for a hearing to contest a Safety Responsibility Suspension must by law be accompanied by a filing fee of FIFTY DOLLARS ($50.00). The fee must be submitted in the form of a money order, cashier's or certified check, a check drawn on the account of an attorney of record or an attorney professional corporation of record in the case before the Department, or by credit card. Payment shall be made payable to the Secretary of State. CASH OR PERSONAL CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This fee is NON-REFUNDABLE. If a request is received without the fee attached, the request will be returned and no hearing will be scheduled.

This is in accordance with Section 2-118 of the Illinois Vehicle Code and 92 Illinois Administrative Code 1001.220.

Decisions from a safety hearing are subject to the Administrative Review Law.

Information and a formal hearing request form regarding a hearing for driver's license sanctions other than an accident without insurance can be found at Formal Hearings.

Safety Responsibility Hearing Request Form PDF