Illinois Traffic Laws: Points, Tickets, License Suspension and DUI

Yes. A driver convicted of three or more point-assigned traffic offenses committed within 12 months is reviewed for suspension or revocation, with the action set by the total points. With no prior suspension or revocation in seven years: 15–44 points, 2-month suspension; 45–74, 3 months; 75–89, 6 months; 90–99, 9 months; 100–109, 12 months; 110 or more, revocation. With one prior suspension or revocation in seven years the periods are longer (4, 6 or 12 months, or revocation at 110 or more).

Speeding 1–10 mph over the limit: 5 points; 11–14 mph over: 15 points; 15–25 mph over: 20 points; more than 25 mph over: 50 points. Too fast for conditions: 10 points. Speeding in a school zone or a construction zone with workers present: 20 points.

Point reviews are based on convictions for offenses committed within a 12-month period, and convictions already used for an action are excluded from later reviews. Prior suspensions within seven years lengthen the penalty.

Courts can sentence eligible traffic offenders to court supervision, which in participating counties typically involves completing a traffic safety program. Supervision is not available for a moving violation if the driver received court supervision twice in the preceding 12 months, and is restricted for DUI when the driver has a prior DUI conviction or supervision.

Many counties let drivers resolve minor traffic and conservation offenses that do not require a court appearance through an Electronic Plea of Guilty (e-Guilty) program run by the county's chief circuit judge and circuit clerk; tickets requiring a court appearance are not eligible. Payments and pleas go to the circuit clerk of the county where the ticket was issued; the Illinois Courts website lists every county's circuit clerk with address and phone.

Minor traffic offenses that do not require a court appearance can be resolved by a written or electronic guilty plea and payment to the circuit clerk; many counties offer online 'e-Guilty' plea-and-pay programs under Supreme Court standards. Tickets that require a court appearance, and anyone who wants to contest the charge, are handled in traffic court in the county where the ticket was issued.

The Secretary of State may suspend or revoke for three or more point-assigned convictions in 12 months (see point system) and for other grounds in 625 ILCS 5/6-206, and must revoke after a DUI conviction. A statutory summary suspension follows a DUI arrest with a failed or refused test. Restricted driving permits may be issued in some cases to relieve undue hardship.

0.08 for drivers generally. Drivers under 21 face a license suspension for driving after consuming any amount of alcohol.

A first DUI is a Class A misdemeanor. Transporting a child under 16 adds 6 months of imprisonment, a $1,000 minimum fine and 25 days of community service, and a BAC of 0.16 or more brings added mandatory penalties. A DUI conviction requires the Secretary of State to revoke the driver's license. Administratively, a failed chemical test (0.08 or more) brings a 6-month statutory summary suspension for a first offender.

Refusing or failing to complete chemical testing after a DUI arrest brings a statutory summary suspension of 12 months for a first offender, or 3 years for a person who is not a first offender. A first offender who refused testing is not eligible for a monitoring device driving permit but may apply for reinstatement or a restricted driving permit after one year.

The DUI statute's repeat-offense penalties (such as a mandatory 5 days in jail or 240 hours of community service for a second violation) apply to a person who violates the law 'a second time' without a stated time limit in that subsection.

The Secretary of State may issue a restricted driving permit, where undue hardship would otherwise result, allowing driving between home and work or within job duties, to medical care for the driver or a household member, and to alcohol or drug treatment, among other purposes. First offenders under a DUI summary suspension may be eligible for a monitoring device driving permit (not available after a test refusal).

Drivers may not use an electronic communication device while driving, including to watch or stream video, join video calls, or use social media. Hands-free or voice-operated use (including a headset) is allowed, as is use for emergencies, while parked on the shoulder, or when stopped in obstructed traffic in neutral or park. Fines: up to $75 (first), $100 (second), $125 (third) and $150 (fourth or later); causing a crash with great bodily harm or death carries at least a $1,000 fine.

DUI becomes 'aggravated DUI,' a felony (generally Class 4), when, among other things: it is the person's third or later DUI; it causes great bodily harm, permanent disability or disfigurement to another person; it causes a death; the driver was driving a school bus with passengers or a for-hire vehicle with passengers; the driver's license was suspended or revoked for an earlier DUI, refusal or reckless homicide; the driver had no valid license or permit or knew the vehicle was uninsured; it is a second DUI committed while transporting a child under 16; or it caused bodily harm to a child under 16 being transported. A third violation is a Class 2 felony, a fourth is a Class 2 felony with no probation, and a fifth is a Class 1 felony with no probation; penalties are higher still for later violations and for fatal crashes.

The Illinois State Police say a DUI conviction (BAC .08 or more) stays permanently on the public driving record. For the criminal record, Illinois courts may not seal or expunge arrest records for a DUI that ended in court supervision or a conviction.

Yes, they are used. Illinois State Police conduct 'Roadside Safety Checks' focused on impaired driving during holiday enforcement campaigns; in the 2021 Labor Day campaign, ISP reported conducting 248 of them.