She noted that offenders also have the pre-trial option of either pleading not guilty and going to trial, or pleading guilty, paying the fine and getting the points on their official driving record. Traffic Safety School has hired Milwaukee area instructors to teach the four-hour course, which has been endorsed by the Milwaukee Safety Commission, Smith said. The Milwaukee program is the first to be administered beyond Illinois by the Northwestern University Traffic Safety School. The first Traffic Safety School classes began in November 1988 in the First Municipal District, and the program was expanded to the other five districts in Cook County within the years. Traffic Safety School enables motorists ticketed for the violations to avoid going to court and having the violation appear on their driving record by successfully completing a four-hour course offered at various sites.
Motorists also have the option of requesting a hearing before a judge or pleading guilty.
If the motorist goes to trial, judges who find a defendant guilty also have the option of sending that person to Traffic Safety School. Upon successful completion of the Traffic Safety School, the student receives a National Safety Council Certificate of Completion and the School reports to the court that the motorist has completed the course. The traffic ticket is adjudicated without a court appearance and the violation does not appear on the permanent driving record maintained by the Illinois Secretary of State. The student fees fully finance the School's operation. The classes emphasize defensive driving, using National Safety Council training materials, including movies, instructor guides and student take-home workbooks.