Teenage Drinking and Driving

Drivers under age 21 represent 10% of licensed drivers but are involved in 17% of alcohol-related fatal crashes. If you are arrested for DUI you will be handcuffed and taken to jail. What will your parents say when you call home and tell them you are in jail? Illinois DUI laws for drivers under 21 years of age are tough and will effect your life for years-- if you live that long.

Crashes are a leading cause of death for teens. Nationally, six individuals between the ages of 15 - 20 die in motor vehicle crashes each day. About 2 in every 5 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.

The average college student spends more money for alcohol than for books.

Legal Consequences of Underage Drinking and Driving

First Underage DUI Conviction

  • Loss of full driving privileges for a minimum of 2 years.
  • Possible imprisonment for up to 1 year.
  • Maximum $2,500 fine.
  • .160 BAC and above mandatory minimum fine of $500.00 and 100 hours of community service

Second Underage DUI Conviction

  • Minimum five-year loss of full driving privileges for a second conviction in a 20-year period.
  • Mandatory five days imprisonment or 240 hours community service.
  • Possible imprisonment for up to one year.
  • Maximum fine of $2,500.
  • .160 BAC and above mandatory minimum fine of $1,250.00 and 2 days in jail

Third Underage DUI Conviction - Class 4 Felony

  • Minimum ten-year loss of full driving privileges.
  • Possible imprisonment for up to seven years.
  • .Maximum fine of $25,000.
  • .160 BAC and above mandatory minimum fine of $2,500.00 and 90 days in jail

Aggravated DUI - Class 4 felony (following a crash resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disfigurement).

  • Revoked for a minimum of two years
  • Possible imprisonment for up to 12 years.
  • Maximum fine of $25,000.

Underage Illegal Transportation of an Alcoholic Beverage

  • Maximum fine of $1,000.
  • Drivers license suspended for first conviction.
  • Drivers license revoked for a second conviction.

Summary Suspension

  • First Offense
    • A chemical test indicating a BAC of .08 or greater results in a mandatory six-month drivers license suspension.
    • Refusal to submit to a chemical test(s) results in a twelve-month license suspension.
  • Subsequent Offenses (within 5 years)
    • A chemical test indicating a BAC of .08 or greater results in a mandatory one-year drivers license suspension.
    • Refusal to submit to a chemical test(s) results in a three-year license suspension.

Using a Fake Illinois Drivers License or ID Card

The penalties for using false IDs are serious and could change your life forever.

  • Obtaining a drivers license through false affidavit is punishable by 1-3 years in prison and a maximum $25,000 fine.
  • Allowing another person to use your identification documents to apply for a drivers license or ID card is punishable by 1-3 years in prison and a maximum $25,000 fine.

Zero Tolerance Law for Underage Drinking and Driving

Zero tolerance is a state law that went into effect on January 1, 1995. The law provides for suspension of the driving privileges of any person under the age of 21 who drives after consuming alcohol. Like the name zero tolerance suggests, any trace of alcohol in a young person's system can result in a suspended drivers license. There are exceptions -- minors who consume alcohol as part of a religious service or those who ingest a prescribed or recommended dosage of medicine containing alcohol.