Illinois DUI
DUI lawyer in Illinois: 90 days to save your license
The license case moves first, and you have 90 days from the day you got the notice to ask for a hearing.
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Illinois case for free and connects you with an Illinois DUI lawyer.
Arrested for DUI in Illinois? 90 days to ask for the hearing.
Counted from the day you got the notice. If that was today, the last day is Thursday, January 7. Miss it and the suspension starts on its own (Secretary of State rule).
The two clocks: court and Secretary of State
Your Illinois DUI arrest opened a criminal case and a separate license case with the Secretary of State. If that time runs out, your license can be suspended before you ever see a judge.
Illinois calls the license case a statutory summary suspension. A first DUI is a Class A misdemeanor. (Secretary of State rule)
When it starts: the suspension starts 46 days after you receive the notice (Secretary of State).
A first offense in Illinois
| What | The rule |
|---|---|
| Fine | a maximum fine of $2,500 |
| Jail | possible imprisonment up to one year |
| License (court) | minimum one-year loss of full driving privileges |
| License (Secretary of State) | six months for a failed test (MDDP permit possible); 12 months for a refusal |
| High BAC | .160 BAC and above: mandatory minimum fine of $500 and 100 hours of community service |
The judge picks a number inside each range. So ask where cases like yours land in Illinois (Illinois penalty rules).
Second and later offenses
| What | The rule |
|---|---|
| Second offense | minimum five-year loss of privileges and mandatory five days in jail or 240 hours of community service |
An earlier case changes every number above. Tell the lawyer the date and state of each prior case (Illinois repeat-offense rules).
Add-on fines and the newest change
Interlock orders and add-on fines in Illinois depend on the charge and the BAC. Ask the lawyer which ones apply to yours.
See how the interlock works and the DUI penalties table.
What a lawyer costs in Illinois
Lawyers in Illinois set their own fees. Ask what a quote covers: the court case, the Secretary of State hearing, a trial. DUI lawyer cost lists the questions to ask.
Check a lawyer's license
The lawyer who takes your case handles DUI cases in Illinois and holds an active Illinois license. Ask for the bar number on the call and it is yours to keep.
What to do now
Losing your license can mean losing your job, your rides and your routine. In Illinois, you have 90 days from the day you got the notice to fight for it. Call at any hour, and a lawyer for Illinois goes over your case tonight and asks for the police records.
Call about Illinois DUI (877) 317-9931
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Illinois case for free and connects you with an Illinois DUI lawyer.
Send your case details
Send the date of your Illinois arrest and the date printed on your Secretary of State notice. Those two dates set your deadline, so the lawyer who calls you starts there.