(65 ILCS 5/1-2-1) (from Ch. 24, par. 1-2-1)

Sec. 1-2-1. The corporate authorities of each municipality may pass all ordinances and make all rules and regulations proper or necessary, to carry into effect the powers granted to municipalities, with such fines or penalties as may be deemed proper. No fine or penalty, however, except civil penalties provided for failure to make returns or to pay any taxes levied by the municipality shall exceed $750 and no imprisonment authorized in Section 1-2-9 for failure to pay any fine, penalty or cost shall exceed 6 months for one offense.

A penalty imposed for violation of an ordinance may include, or consist of, a requirement that the defendant do one or both of the following:

(1) Complete an education program, except that a holder of a valid commercial driver's license who commits a vehicle weight or size restriction violation shall not be required to complete an education program under this Section.

(2) Perform some reasonable public service work such as but not limited to the picking up of litter in public parks or along public highways or the maintenance of public facilities.

A default in the payment of a fine or penalty or any installment of a fine or penalty may be collected by any means authorized for the collection of monetary judgments. The municipal attorney of the municipality in which the fine or penalty was imposed may retain attorneys and private collection agents for the purpose of collecting any default in payment of any fine or penalty or installment of that fine or penalty. Any fees or costs incurred by the municipality with respect to attorneys or private collection agents retained by the municipal attorney under this Section shall be charged to the offender.

A low-income individual required to complete an education program under this Section who provides proof of eligibility for the federal earned income tax credit under Section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code or the Illinois earned income tax credit under Section 212 of the Illinois Income Tax Act shall not be required to pay any fee for participating in a required education program.

(Source: P.A. 95-389, eff. 1-1-08; 96-288, eff. 8-11-09.)