Secretary of State Info

Restricted Driving Permit (RDP)

If eligible, a person convicted of DUI may apply to the Secretary of State's office for an RDP.
A multiple offender whose BAC test results are .08 or more or whose chemical test indicates any amount of a controlled substance, is not eligible for an RDP during the Statutory Summary Suspension period.
A multiple offender who refuses to submit to or fails to complete chemical testing is not eligible for an RDP during the suspension period.
A driver under age 16 whose driving privileges are revoked is not eligible for an RDP.
To obtain an RDP, the offender must prove a hardship exists, provide a current professional alcohol/drug evaluation and, when appropriate, provide proof of remedial education or treatment.
An offender must appear before a hearing officer in the Secretary of State's Department of Administrative Hearings. The driving record is reviewed to ensure that the driver would not threaten public safety if allowed to drive on a limited basis.
An offender with two or more alcohol-related driving incidents on his/her driving record within 10 years is required to have a BAIID installed on his/her vehicle for the duration of the RDP. As required by statute, the offender is responsible for the fee required for the BAIID during this period.
An offender requesting a formal hearing for an RDP or reinstatement of his/her driving privileges will be charged a $50 nonrefundable filing fee when requesting the formal hearing.

Driver's License Reinstatement

Statutory Summary Suspension

Driving privileges may be reinstated at the end of the Statutory Summary Suspension period unless the court instructs the Secretary of State's office otherwise.

Before driving privileges can be reinstated:

Other suspensions or revocations on the driving record must be cleared.
A $250 reinstatement fee must be paid to the Secretary of State, $30 of which goes to the Department of Human Services, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, to help defray the cost of professional alcohol/drug evaluations for indigent offenders.
If a repeat offender, a $500 reinstatement fee must be paid to the Secretary of State's office, $60 of which goes to the Illinois Road Fund, $190 to the Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Fund, and $250 to the General Revenue Fund.
The reinstatement of a Statutory Summary Suspension becomes valid when it is entered on the driver's record in the Secretary of State's office provided the provisional termination date has passed.
Payment for the reinstatement fee must be mailed to: Secretary of State, DUI Section, 2701 S. Dirksen Pkwy., Springfield, IL 62723. If paying by credit card, please call 217-782-3619 (debit cards not accepted).

Revocation

To have driving privileges reinstated, a driver convicted of DUI must:

Have a clear driving record other than the revocation sanction.
Undergo an alcohol/drug evaluation. If an alcohol/drug problem is indicated, proof of treatment must be submitted.
Complete an alcohol/drug remedial education program. Even if the evaluation does not recommend treatment, the driver is still required to complete a remedial education program.
Appear before a Secretary of State hearing officer. For a first offense, an informal hearing may be conducted by visiting a hearing officer at one of the regional Driver Services facilities. Multiple offenders must request in writing, pay a $50 nonrefundable filing fee and attend a formal hearing in Chicago, Springfield, Mt. Vernon or Joliet.
Demonstrate during the hearing that public safety will not be endangered if driving privileges are restored. The hearing officer considers the seriousness of the offense, the offender's overall driving record and the driver's remedial efforts.
File proof of financial responsibility prior to reinstatement, pay a $500 reinstatement fee, pass the driver's license exam (written, vision and driving) and pay the appropriate application fee.
Payment for a revocation must be mailed to: Secretary of State, Traffic Violations Section, 2701 S. Dirksen Pkwy., Springfield, IL 62723. If paying by credit card, please call 217-785-8619 (debit cards not accepted).
An offender requesting a formal hearing for reinstatement of his/her driving privileges must pay a $50 nonrefundable filing fee when requesting the formal hearing.

A reinstatement becomes valid when it is entered on the driver's record in the Secretary of State's office.

For more information on driver's license reinstatement and driving permits:

Secretary of State
Administrative Hearings Dept.
291 Howlett Bldg.
Springfield, IL 62756
217-782-7065
or
17 N. State St., #1200
Chicago, IL 60602
312-793-3862

Penalties of Underage Drinking

Automobile crashes continue to be a leading cause of death among young people. Secretary of State Jesse White has addressed this serious problem through special programs and laws such as the "Use It & Lose It" zero tolerance law. "Use It & Lose It" penalties apply to any driver under age 21 who has any trace of alcohol in his/her system or who refuses to submit to chemical testing.

"Use It and Lose It" - Zero Tolerance

First offense - Suspension of driving privileges for 3 months for a BAC of more than .00: suspension of driving privileges for 6 months for refusal to submit to or failure to complete testing.
Second offense - Suspension of driving privileges for 1 year for a BAC of more than .00; suspension of driving privileges for 2 years for refusal to submit to or failure to complete testing.
First offense (commercial driver's license holder) - Suspension of CDL privileges for 1 year.
Second offense (commercial driver's license holder) - Lifetime disqualification of CDL privileges.

During 2006, 2,663 drivers under age 21 were suspended for driving with BACs of more than .00 or for refusing to submit to chemical testing. Additionally, 4,796 underage drivers were arrested for DUI and received suspensions.

Under the "Use It & Use it" law, a police officer also may initiate a DUI arrest based on field sobriety tests or additional evidence.

From 1986 to 2006, DUI arrests decreased 8 percent for drivers under age 21. This decline can be attributed to many factors, including tougher laws for DUI / and fraudulent IDs, youth DUI prevention programs, visually distinctive driver's licenses and state ID cards, and training programs like Operation Straight ID.

Under 21 DUI

A first DUI conviction results in revocation of driving privileges for a minimum of 2 years.
First-time DUI offenders are not eligible for an RDP until the second year of revocation.
Remedial education and/or retesting may be required prior to reinstatement of driving privileges for those under age 18.

A person under age 21 found guilty of DUI may be ordered by a judge, as a condition of probation or discharge, to participate in the Youthful Intoxicated Driver's Visitation Program. The offender will undergo a comprehensive counseling session prior to visitation to determine if the program is appropriate. If approved, the offender may be sent on a supervised visit to a location where the results of alcoholism or DUI crashes may be viewed.

Purchase, Possession, Receipt or Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor

Any person under age 21 convicted of violating the Liquor Control Act of 1934 for the illegal purchase, possession, receipt or consumption of alcohol will have his/her driving privileges suspended for 6 months for a first conviction, 12 months for a second conviction and revocation of driving privileges for a subsequent conviction.
Any person under age 21 who receives court supervision for violating the Liquor Control Act of 1934 for the purchase, possession, receipt or consumption of alcohol will have his/her driving privileges suspended for 3 months.

Providing Alcohol to a Person Under Age 21

Class A misdemeanor; possible imprisonment of up to 1 year; fines of $500-$2,500.

Parental Responsibility

A parent/legal guardian who knowingly allows persons under age 21 to consume alcoholic beverages at a private residence is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, with possible imprisonment of 12 months and fines of $500-$2,500.
A parent/legal guardian who knowingly allows persons under age 21 to consume alcoholic beverages by failing to control access to either the private residence or to alcoholic beverages in the residence, and bodily harm results to person as a result of this access, is guilty of a Class 4 felony.
It is unlawful for any parent/legal guardian to knowingly allow his/her property to be used for the illegal consumption of alcoholic beverages. If the violation results in great bodily harm or death to any person, the parent/guardian is guilty of a Class 4 felony, with possible imprisonment of 1-3 years and fines of up to $25,000.

Illegal Transportation

First offense - Suspension of driving privileges for 1 year.
Subsequent offense - Revocation of driving privileges for 1 year.

Hotel/Motel Responsibility

This applies to any hotel/motel employee who rents a room to a person under age 21 knowing that alcoholic beverages will be consumed there or any person age 21 or older paying for a hotel room or facility knowing alcoholic beverages will be consumed there by individuals under age 21.

Accidents Causing Injury or Death

Any person under age 18 who has been charged with an offense as a result of an accident in which a passenger was seriously injured or killed may be denied a driver's license or driver's license renewal by the Secretary of State's office.