(a) Conservation Offenses. Conservation offenses, as defined in section 1-5 of the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act (705 ILCS 135/1-5) classified as petty, business, class B misdemeanor, or Class C misdemeanor and that do not require a court appearance under Rule 551, may be satisfied without a court appearance by a written plea of guilty, including electronic pleas as authorized by the Supreme Court, and payment of an amount equal to the Schedule 11 assessment, as provided in section 15-55 of the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act (705 ILCS 135/15-55). If the defendant fails to satisfy the charges and fails to appear at the court appearance, the court shall address the charges in accordance with Rule 556. No other fines, fees, penalties, assessments, or costs shall be assessed in any case that is disposed of on a written plea of guilty without a court appearance under this Rule 530.
(b) The provisions of Supreme Court Rule 402 relating to pleas of guilty do not apply in cases where a defendant enters a guilty plea under this Rule 530. The clerk of the circuit court shall disburse monies collected under this Rule 530 in accordance with the Schedule 11 assessment, as provided in section 15-55 of the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act (705 ILCS 135/15-55).
Adopted Mar. 8, 2019, eff. July 1, 2019; amended Dec. 9, 2020, eff. Jan. 1, 2021; amended July 20, 2021, eff. immediately; amended Oct. 27, 2022, eff. Sept. 18, 2023.