DUI Information

Illinois DUI


Convictions of DUI in Illinois result in two types of cases:

  • Court case where the punishment can involve:
    • Jail
    • Fines
    • Suspended driver's license
    • Required alcohol education classes, and more
  • Drunk driving arrest that causes the suspension of a driver's license that be retained upon an appeal and hearing.

Though this dual punishment, for one crime, appears to violate the Double Jeopardy clause of the Constitution, the state of Illinois Supreme Court recently declared that a summary suspension of a driver's license is not a punishment. Hence it does not violate the double jeopardy clauses of the state of Illinois or U.S. Constitutions.

If you are above 21 years of age and are identified to have a BAC (blood alcohol level) level of 0.08 while driving a vehicle, you can be arrested in Illinois for a DUI. Even if you steering around but are simply sitting in the car with keys in the ignition while the car is parked, this is enough for you to get arrested for a DUI in Illinois.

Apart from these, if your blood alcohol count is between .05 and .08 you can receive a Illinois DUI if your driving abilities are found to be impaired under normal circumstances. Commercial drivers are charged with a DUI in Illinois if the BAC is 0.04 or greater.