Rule 501. Definitions

(a) Reserved.

(b) Reserved.

(c) Conservation Offense Any case charging a violation listed below, except any charge punishable upon conviction by imprisonment in the penitentiary:

(1) The Fish and Aquatic Life Code, as amended (515 ILCS 5/1-1 et seq.);

(2) The Wildlife Code, as amended (520 ILCS 5/1.1 et seq.);

(3) The Boat Registration and Safety Act, as amended (625 ILCS 45/1-1 et seq.);

(4) The Park District Code, as amended (70 ILCS 1205/1-1 et seq.);

(5) The Chicago Park District Act, as amended (70 ILCS 1505/ 0.01 et seq.);

(6) The State Parks Act, as amended (20 ILCS 835/ 0.01 et seq.);

(7) The State Forest Act, as amended (525 ILCS 40/ 0.01 et seq.);

(8) The Forest Fire Protection District Act, as amended (425 ILCS 40/ 0.01 et seq.);

(9) The Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act, as amended (625 ILCS 40/1-1 et seq.);

(10) The Endangered Species Protection Act, as amended (520 ILCS 10/1 et seq.);

(11) The Timber Transportation Act, as amended (225 ILCS 740/1 et seq.);

(12) The Timber Buyers Licensing Act, as amended (225 ILCS 735/1 et seq.);

(13) The Downstate Forest Preserve District Act, as amended (70 ILCS 805/ 0.001 et seq.);

(14) The Exotic Weed Act, as amended (525 ILCS 10/1 et seq.);

(15) The Ginseng Harvesting Act, as amended (525 ILCS 20/ 0.01 et seq.);

(16) The Cave Protection Act, as amended (525 ILCS 5/1 et seq.);

(17) Any regulations, proclamations or ordinances adopted pursuant to any code or act named in this Rule 501(c);

(18) Ordinances adopted pursuant to the Counties Code for the acquisition of property for parks or recreational areas (55 ILCS 5/5-1005(18));

(19) The Recreational Trails of Illinois Act, as amended (20 ILCS 862/1 et seq.);

(20) The Herptiles-Herps Act, as amended (510 ILCS 68/1-1 et seq.);

(21) The Wild Animal Public Safety Act, as amended (520 ILCS 35/1 et seq.).

(d) Reserved.

(e) Unit of Local Government Any county, municipality, township, special district, or unit designated as a unit of local government by law.

(f) Traffic Offense.

(1) Any case which charges a violation of any statute, ordinance or regulation relating to the operation or use of motor vehicles, the use of streets and highways by pedestrians or the operation of any other wheeled or tracked vehicle. Traffic cases are classified as follows:

(i) "Major Traffic Offense" means a traffic offense under the Toll Highway Act (605 ILCS 10/1 et seq.), Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/1-100 et seq.), or a similar provision of a local ordinance other than a petty offense or business offense that is punishable by a term of imprisonment of less than one year.

(ii) "Minor Traffic Offense" means a petty offense or business offense under the Toll Highway Act (605 ILCS 10/1 et seq.), Child Passenger Protection Act (625 ILCS 25/1 et seq.), Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/1-100 et seq.), or a similar provision of a local ordinance.

(2) A traffic offense does not include a case in which a ticket was served by "tie-on," "hang-on," or "appended" methods and cases charging violations of:

(i) Article I of chapter 4 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, as amended (anti-theft laws) (625 ILCS 5/4-100 et seq.);

(ii) Any charge punishable upon conviction by imprisonment in the penitentiary;

(iii) "Jay-walking" ordinances of any unit of local government;

(iv) Any conservation offense (see Rule 501(c)). (g) Notice to appear. An option allowing release by a written request issued by a peace officer that a person appear before a court at a stated time and place (725 ILCS 5/107-1(c)).