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March 25, 2005

Randy Nehrt

Secretary of State Jesse White Issues 2005 DUI Fact Book

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced today that the 2005 Illinois DUI Fact Book is available. The annual publication from White is an excellent reference material for the media as well as the general public. The 2005 DUI Fact Book is also available on Secretary of State Jesse White's website.

The fact book contains DUI statistics and other information regarding Illinois' DUI laws and the state's efforts to combat drunk driving. In 2003, 49,569 drivers were arrested for DUI in Illinois compared to 51,649 in 2002. The fact book details the penalties for a DUI conviction in Illinois, the average cost of a DUI and new laws created in recent years to address drunk driving.

White said he would continue to combat drunk driving. To help curb underage drinking, White designed a new driver's license for people under 21 years of age. The new vertical design will be easier for retailers to identify and more difficult for minors to alter.

"It's important that we continue to fight drunk-driving on as many fronts as possible, because too many drivers still aren't getting the message," White said. "In 2003, 639 people were killed in alcohol-related crash fatalities. Forty-four percent of all crash fatalities in Illinois were alcohol-related that year and nearly 50,000 drivers in this state were arrested for DUI. Drinking and driving takes the lives of too many innocent victims each year."

The office also created an award winning DUI video - The Faces of DUI, to educate and warn adults and students of the dangers of drinking and driving. The video was distributed to high schools throughout the state. For more information about the video or to schedule a speaker on DUI for your school or community organization, call the Secretary of State's Traffic Safety Hotline at 1-866-247-0213. White also announced that he is producing four new Public Service Announcements (PSA's) this year in an effort to reduce drinking and driving. Funding to produce the PSA's was provided through a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation.