Driver's License

Don't Jeopardize Your Driving Privileges

DUI Penalties  |  Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)  |  Failure to Appear  |  Parking Suspensions  |  Automated Traffic Violations Suspension  |  Failure to Pay Fines  |  Deadbeats Don't Drive  |  Tollway  |  Revocation, Suspension, Denial or Cancellation

DUI Penalties

If you are arrested for DUI you can expect:

1. A Statutory Summary Suspension on the 46th day after the notice date. This suspension is not due to a conviction of driving under the influence, but is a separate part of the law based on Authority Section 11-501.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. This suspension results when a driver submits to a chemical test disclosing a blood-alcohol content of 0.08% or more, or any drug substance or intoxicating compounds, or the driver refuses to submit to testing. For more information regarding Statutory Summary Suspensions, go to "What is a Statutory Summary Suspension?"
2. A Revocation of your drivers license and/or driving privileges. When the Office of the Secretary of State receives a conviction report of DUI, a revocation will be entered for a minimum of 12 months. This revocation will be in addition to the Statutory Summary Suspension resulting from the same arrest incident as described above. For more information regarding DUI convictions, go to "What happens if I am convicted of DUI?"

Drivers Under 21 Years of Age:

1. If you are an under-21 driver who is arrested for any violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code, you will be asked to submit to chemical testing if the arresting officer has reason to believe you have consumed any amount of an alcoholic beverage. Refusal to submit to this testing or failure of the chemical testing (more than 0.00%) will result in a Zero Tolerance Suspension. For more information regarding Zero Tolerance suspensions, go to Use It and Lose It.
2. If results from your chemical testing are 0.08% or higher, you may receive a Statutory Summary Suspension of your drivers license and/or driving privileges. For more information regarding Statutory Summary Suspensions, go to "What is a Statutory Summary Suspension?"
3. If convicted of DUI by a court you will receive a Revocation of your drivers license and/or driving privileges. For more information regarding DUI convictions go to "What happens if I am convicted of DUI?"

A person under the age of 21 who is found guilty or granted court supervision for a violation of state law or local ordinance relating to illegal consumption, possession, purchase or receipt of alcohol, regardless of whether a vehicle was involved will face a loss of driving privileges, in addition to any fine imposed. Court supervision for any of these offenses will result in a 3 month suspension of driving privileges; a first conviction results in a 6 month suspension of driving privileges; a second conviction results in a 12 month suspension of driving privileges and a third or subsequent conviction will result in a revocation of driving privileges.

More Information on DUI:
Safer State With .08
DUI Publications
MADD Illinois

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Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)

Those driving by permit will have certain restrictions if convicted of a moving violation or serious offense.

Find out more about the Graduate to Safety program.

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Failure to Appear

A Failure to Appear Suspension is entered against the drivers license and/or driving privileges of a driver who has been issued a traffic citation and the violation has remained unsatisfied. The suspension is entered at the request of a Circuit Clerk's Office within the State of Illinois or an equivalent agency from another State. The Office of the Secretary of State must receive a Final Disposition from the court/agency that requested the suspension. A reinstatement fee may be required in order to clear this type of suspension.

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Parking Suspensions

A Parking Suspension is entered against the drivers license and/or driving privileges of a driver who has been issued 10 or more parking violations and these violations have remained unsatisfied. The suspension is entered at the request of a Parking Municipality. The Secretary of State's Office must receive a Final Disposition from the Parking Municipality that requested the suspension. A reinstatement fee may be required in order to clear this type of suspension.

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Automated Traffic Violations Suspension

An automated traffic suspension is entered against the driver's license and/or driving privileges of a driver who has failed to pay any fine or penalty for 5 or more offenses for automated traffic violations. The suspension is entered at the request of the municipality. The Secretary of State's office must receive a certified report from the municipality that requested the suspension that all fines and penalties have been paid. A reinstatement fee may be required in order to clear this type of suspension.

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Failure to Pay Fines

A Failure to Pay Fines stop is the result of a request by an Illinois Circuit Clerk's office for non-payment of court imposed fines. This is requested when a driver has appeared in court to answer the charge they were cited for, have been found guilty and have been assessed a fine amount by the court, but the fine has not been satisfied in a timely manner.

A Failure to Pay Fines stop is not a suspension of your drivers license and/or driving privileges and does not require a reinstatement fee. However, you will not be able to renew or be issued any drivers license until a Failure to Pay Fines Receipt is obtained and presented to the Office of the Secretary of State to clear the stop. If the violation is satisfied in the County of Cook, the stop cannot be cleared until the Office of the Secretary of State is notified directly by the Court.

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Deadbeats Don't Drive

Your license can be suspended under the Family Financial Responsibility Law for nonpayment of court-ordered child support.

Find out more about the Deadbeats Don't Drive program.

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Tollway Violations/Evasions

Under Illinois law, your license can be suspended if you fail to satisfy fines or penalties for 5 or more toll violations or evasions. More information is available at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's web site located at www.illinoistollway.com.

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Revocation, Suspension, Denial or Cancellation

Driving privileges can be temporarily withdrawn (suspended) for a specified time period, permanently terminated (revoked) or cancelled. In addition, for certain causes, the privilege to apply for a driver's license or instruction permit can be denied to an individual under the age of 18 for either a six-month period or until the 18th birthday.

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