Illinois Driving Restrictions, Suspensions and Permits

Judicial Driving Permits

This permit is issued, following a circuit judge’s order, to a first
offender age 18 or older serving a statutory summary suspension following
an arrest for driving while under the influence of alcohol, other drugs
and/or intoxicating compounds (DUI). Judicial driving permits have the
same restrictions and provisions as restricted driving permits.

Restricted Driving Permits

If your license is suspended or revoked by the Secretary of State’s
office, you may be eligible for a restricted driving permit (RDP). Under
Illinois law, a restricted driving permit may be issued to drivers age 16
or older to allow limited driving privileges for employment, education or
medical care. Before the Secretary of State’s office will issue an RDP,
it must be convinced that the driver receiving the permit does not pose a
threat to the safety of others on the roadway. A statutory summary
suspension second offender is not eligible to apply for this type of
driving relief. Eligible applicants with prior DUI suspensions or
revocations are to have a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device
(BAIID) installed in their vehicle. More information on restricted
driving permits is available from the Administrative Hearings Department,
210 Howlett Building, Springfield, Illinois 62756.

Denial “Denial” means that you are temporarily denied the privilege of
applying for a driver’s license and, in certain instances, an instruction
permit. A denial can only be entered to the driving record of an
individual under the age of 18 for conviction of one of the following
offenses:

A conviction that results in a mandatory revocation of driving
privileges, such as a DUI conviction.A denial for this type of offense
precludes application for either a driver’s license or an instruction
permit until the person’s 18th birthday.

Suspension “Suspension” means that you have temporarily lost your
driving privileges. When the suspension is for a specific length of time,
you may regain your driving privileges after your suspension has ended
and you have paid a reinstatement fee. In other cases, your driver’s
license will not be returned until you meet a requirement of Illinois
law.

Too Many Tickets Your driver’s license will be suspended if you are
convicted of three traffic violations committed within any 12-month
period. If you are under 21 years old at the time of arrest, two traffic
violations within any 24-month period will result in a suspension. If you
are under age 18, you will be required to successfully complete a driver
remedial education course to make your driving privileges valid again. In
addition, you may be required to submit to a complete driver’s license
examination to be re-issued a driver’s license. The length of the
suspension will vary according to the seriousness of the traffic
offenses.

If your driver’s license is suspended for conviction of three traffic
violations within a 12-month period, you may be eligible for a
probationary license or occupational driving permit. If you receive a
suspension for conviction of two traffic violations in a 24-month period
while under the age of 21, you may be eligible to receive a restricted
driving permit. The Secretary of State’s office will notify you if you
are eligible.

Your driver’s license may also be suspended under the following
DUI-realted conditions:

TRAFFIC CRASHES: You were convicted for refusal or neglect to report a
traffic accident.

UNINSURED CRASHES: You were uninsured at the time of a crash in which
you were determined to be at fault and for which you owe damages.

DRUG/ALCOHOL TEST FAILURE: A test following your DUI arrest revealed a
blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or more or any trace of
cannabis, controlled drug substances or intoxicating compounds.

DRUG/ALCOHOL TEST REFUSAL: You refused testing for drugs or alcohol
after being arrested for DUI in Illinois or another state.

ILLEGAL TRANSPORTATION OF ALCOHOL: You are convicted of illegally
transporting alcohol twice in 12 months.

DRUG OR SEX OFFENSE: You committed a drug or sex crime while operating
or in direct physical control of an automobile.

ILLEGAL TRANSPORTATION OF ALCOHOL: You were convicted of illegally
transporting alcohol and you were under age 21.

ILLEGAL POSSESSION, CONSUMPTION, ATTEMPTING TO PURCHASE ALCOHOL, OR
ACCEPTING ALCOHOL AS A GIFT: You are under age 21 and convicted of
violating the Liquor Control Act of 1934.

FAILURE TO APPEAR VIOLATIONS: You failed to appear for any traffic
citation.

Revocation “Revocation” means that your driving privileges have been
taken away indefinitely by the Secretary of State’s office. To regain
your driving privileges, you may be eligible to reapply for your license
after a minimum of one year, unless otherwise noted.

Revocation of your license is a very serious matter. Your driver’s
license will be revoked if you are convicted of the following
offenses:

AGGRAVATED DUI: You caused personal injury or death as a result of
DUI, had a prior conviction of reckless homicide or Aggravated DUI
involving a death and committed a DUI, received a third or subsequent DUI
conviction, or committed a DUI violation while transporting children in a
school bus. Minimum revocation lengths vary according to type of offense
and previous history.

DUI: You drove under the influence of alcohol, other drugs and/or
intoxicating compounds.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) BAC is a measurement of the amount
of alcohol in your system based on a test of your breath, blood or urine.
It is illegal to drive if your BAC is .08 percent or greater. However,
you can be convicted of DUI if your BAC is less than .08 percent and your
driving ability is impaired. Your BAC can be affected by:

the amount you drink. Twelve ounces of beer, five ounces of wine or
one and one-half ounces of “hard” liquor contain the same amount of
alcohol.

time is the only way to remove the effects of alcohol. Food, coffee
and showers do not speed up the elimination of alcohol from your
body.

your body weight or size. Usually, heavier people have more blood and
body fluids to dilute the alcohol. Other things affect your reaction to
alcohol. These include food eaten, your tolerance of alcohol and any
drugs you may have taken.

Other Drugs

In addition to alcohol, many other prescription and nonprescription
drugs impair safe driving. Some of these drugs are: antihistamines, cold
remedies, pain relievers and mood-changing drugs. Others are marijuana,
hashish, LSD, heroin, cocaine, morphine and amphetamines (pep pills).
Mixing even small amounts of alcohol with other drugs is very dangerous.
It is also illegal to operate a motor vehicle on Illinois highways with
any trace of a controlled drug, substance, cannabis (marijuana) or
intoxicating compounds in your blood.