Illinois DUI Laws
DUI Conviction Penalties
First Illinois DUI conviction
Minimum of one-year loss of full driving privileges.
Possible imprisonment for up to one year.
Maximum fine of $2,500.
Second Illinois DUI Conviction
Minimum five-year loss of full driving privileges for a second conviction in a 20-year period.
Mandatory five days imprisonment or 240 hours community service.
Possible imprisonment for up to one year.
Maximum fine of $2,500.
Third Illinois DUI Conviction – Class 2 felony
Minimum ten-year loss of full driving privileges.
Mandatory 18-30 month periodic imprisonment.
Possible imprisonment for up to seven years.
Maximum fine of $25,000.
Aggravated Illinois DUI – Class 4 felony (following a crash resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disfigurement).
Minimum of one-year loss of full driving privileges.
Mandatory ten days imprisonment or 480 hours community service.
Possible imprisonment for up to twelve years.
Maximum fine of $25,000.
Other Illinois Alcohol Offenses
Providing Alcohol to a Person Under Age 21
Possible imprisonment for up to one year.
Maximum fine of $2,500.
Illegal Transportation of an Alcoholic Beverage
Maximum fine of $1,000.
Point-assigned violation will be entered on drivers record.
Drivers license suspension for a second conviction in a 12-month period.
Knowingly Permitting a Driver Under the Influence to Operate a Vehicle
Possible imprisonment for up to one year.
Maximum fine of $2,500.
Summary Suspension
First Offense
A chemical test indicating a BAC of .08 or greater results in a mandatory six-month drivers license suspension.
Refusal to submit to a chemical test(s) results in a twelve-month license suspension.
Subsequent Offenses
A chemical test indicating a BAC of .08 or greater results in a mandatory one-year drivers license suspension.
Refusal to submit to a chemical test(s) results in a three-year license suspension.
Illinois Teenage Drinking and Driving
Drivers under age 21 represent 10% of licensed drivers but are involved in 17% of alcohol-related fatal crashes. If you are arrested for DUI you will be handcuffed and taken to jail. What will your parents say when you call home and tell them you are in jail? Illinois DUI laws for drivers under 21 years of age are tough and will effect your life for years– if you live that long. Crashes are a leading cause of death for teens. Nationally, six individuals between the ages of 15 – 20 die in motor vehicle crashes each day. About 2 in every 5 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.
Legal Consequences of Illinois Underage Drinking and Driving
First Underage 21 DUI Conviction
Loss of full driving privileges for a minimum of 2 years.
Possible imprisonment for up to 1 year.
Maximum $2,500 fine.
Second Underage 21 DUI Conviction
Minimum five-year loss of full driving privileges for a second conviction in a 20-year period.
Mandatory five days imprisonment or 240 hours community service.
Possible imprisonment for up to one year.
Maximum fine of $2,500.
Third Underage 21 DUI Conviction – Class 4 Felony
Minimum ten-year loss of full driving privileges.
Mandatory 18-30 month periodic imprisonment.
Possible imprisonment for seven years.
Maximum fine of $25,000.
Aggravated DUI in Illinois
Class 4 Felony (Following a crash resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disfigurements)
Loss of full driving privileges for a minimum of 1 year.
Possible imprisonment for up to 12 years.
Maximum fine of $25,000.
Underage Illegal Transportation of an Alcoholic Beverage
Maximum fine of $1,000.
Drivers license suspended for first conviction.
Drivers license revoked for a second conviction.
Summary Suspension
First Offense
A chemical test indicating a BAC of .08 or greater results in a mandatory six-month drivers license suspension.
Refusal to submit to a chemical test(s) results in a twelve-month license suspension.
Subsequent Offenses
A chemical test indicating a BAC of .08 or greater results in a mandatory one-year drivers license suspension.
Refusal to submit to a chemical test(s) results in a three-year license suspension.
Using a Fake Illinois Drivers License or ID Card
The penalties for using false IDs are serious and could change your life forever.
Obtaining a drivers license through false affidavit is punishable by 1-3 years in prison and a maximum $25,000 fine.
Allowing another person to use your identification documents to apply for a drivers license or ID card is punishable by 1-3 years in prison and a maximum $25,000 fine.
Zero Tolerance Law for Underage Drinking and Driving
Zero tolerance is a state law that went into effect on January 1, 1995. The law provides for suspension of the driving privileges of any person under the age of 21 who drives after consuming alcohol. Like the name zero tolerance suggests, any trace of alcohol in a young person's system can result in a suspended drivers license. There are exceptions — minors who consume alcohol as part of a religious service or those who ingest a prescribed or recommended dosage of medicine containing alcohol.
Penalties for Drinking and Driving
The Zero Tolerance Law provides that minors can have their driving privileges suspended even if they're not intoxicated at the .08 level. The following table shows the length of time your driving privileges may be suspended under the Zero Tolerance Law (for BAC of .01 or greater) and DUI Laws (for BAC of .08 or greater). The loss of driving privileges is greater if you refuse to take a sobriety test.
Under Zero Tolerance Law Under DUI Laws
If Test Refused If Test Refused
1st Violation 3 Months 6 Months 6 Months 12 Months
2nd Violation 1 Year 2 Years 1 Year 3 Years
Effect on Your Driving Record
Zero Tolerance (BAC of .01 or greater) — Except during suspension period, not on public driving record as long as there is no subsequent suspension
DUI Conviction (BAC of .08 or greater) — Permanently on public driving record
Under certain conditions, you may be charged with DUI even though your BAC is below .08.