720 ILCS 5/4-9 : Rights and Remedies — Criminal Offenses — Criminal Code — Criminal Code of 2012 — Principles of Criminal Liability — Criminal Act and Mental State —9 - Absolute liability TEXT PDF A person may be guilty of an offense without having, as to each element thereof, one of the mental states described in Sections 4--4 through 4--7 if the offense is a misdemeanor which is not punishable by incarceration or by a fine exceeding $1,000 , or the statute defining the offense clearly indicates a legislative purpose to impose absolute liability for the conduct described. 720 ILCS 5/4-9 Amended by P.A. 096-1198,§ 5, eff. 1/1/2011. Laws 1961, p. 1983.