Each year in Illinois, hundreds of people die needlessly as the result of drinking or drugged driving. Hundreds more are seriously injured or permanently disabled, and millions of dollars of property damage occur. Here are some things you should know about the consequences of drinking and driving in Illinois.
DUI Information for Adults
DUI Conviction Penalties
First DUI conviction
Minimum of one-year loss of full driving privileges.
Possible imprisonment for up to one year.
Maximum fine of $2,500.
Second 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 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 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 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.
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.
The average college student spends more money for alcohol than
for books.
Legal Consequences of 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
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.
How You Can Help Report Drunk
Drivers
You can help by reporting suspected drunk drivers to your nearest
State Police Headquarters. From your cellular telephone or citizens band
radio, provide us with the following information:
The location you are calling from.
Time, location, direction of travel and a description
of the suspected drunk driver.
The make, color, and license plate number of the car.
Blood Alcohol Content Table
This table shows the effects of alcohol on a normal person of
a given body weight. Please do not take this table as a license
to drink irresponsibly. Everyone is different, and alcohol
effects each person in a slightly different way. Only you know
your limits. Please drink within them.
One drink equals:
1 oz. 86 proof Liquor, or
3 oz. wine, or
12 oz. Beer
Levels of Intoxication:
BAC less than .05% - Caution
BAC .05 to .079% - Driving
Impaired
BAC .08% & up - Presumed Under
the Influence
Body
Weight
Number of Drinks
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
100
0.032
0.065
0.097
.0129
.0162
0.194
0.226
0.258
0.291
120
0.027
0.054
0.081
0.108
0.135
0.161
0.188
0.215
0.242
140
0.023
0.046
0.069
0.092
0.115
0.138
0.161
0.184
0.207
160
0.020
0.040
0.060
0.080
0.101
0.121
0.141
0.161
0.181
180
0.018
0.036
0.054
0.072
0.090
0.108
0.126
0.144
0.162
200
0.016
0.032
0.048
0.064
0.080
0.097
0.113
0.129
0.145
220
0.015
0.029
0.044
0.058
0.073
0.088
0.102
0.117
0.131
240
0.014
0.027
0.040
0.053
0.067
0.081
0.095
0.108
0.121
This table shows the effects of alcohol within one
hour on a normal person of a given body weight. Please do not take
this table as a license to drink irresponsibly. Everyone is different,
and alcohol effects each person in a slightly different way. Only
you know your limits. Please drink within them.
