Fight a ticket in Chicago

You have 7 days from when the ticket is issued, then a second window of 21 days after the mailed notice. Below: where to dispute, what each violation costs, and the defenses that actually get heard.

Your deadline

You have 7 days from when the ticket is issued, then a second window of 21 days after the mailed notice.

7 days from issuance, then 21 days from mailed Notice of Violation; up to 3 tickets per online contest

Who decides

Dept. of Administrative Hearings — Vehicle Hearings Division (ALJs)

Appeals: Circuit Court of Cook County (Daley Center, Room 602) within 35 days.

Ways to dispute

online · by mail · in person · by video · by written statement

Official dispute portal

Start with the scan. It reads your exact ticket, computes your deadline, and shows the odds for your specific violation — free.

TossMyTicket is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Self-help tools only. Outcomes are never guaranteed.