November 20, 2008
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Secretary of State Jesse White Issues 2008 DUI Fact Book

Previews New Ignition Interlock Law to Further Combat Drunk Driving

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced today that the 2008 Illinois DUI Fact Book is available. The annual publication from White's office is an excellent reference material for the media as well as the general public. The 2008 DUI Fact Book is also available on White's website at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

The fact book contains statistics and other information regarding Illinois' DUI laws and the state's efforts to combat drunk driving. Annually, approximately 50,000 drivers are arrested for DUI in Illinois. 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. This version reflects updated DUI law changes effective June 1, 2008.

In addition to stringent penalties and licensing sanctions, convicted DUI offenders face an average cost in Illinois of approximately $15,000. This includes costs associated with obtaining and maintaining high-risk auto insurance, court and legal fees, potential income loss and driver's license reinstatement.

White said he would continue to work with law enforcement, the legislature and the judiciary to keep drunk drivers off the road. He also previewed a groundbreaking new DUI law set to take effect January 1, 2009.

"I am pleased to have initiated legislation, effective January 1, 2009, that requires any first-time DUI offender to have a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) installed on his or her vehicle," said White. "This is a new and innovative approach to deal with a very serious traffic safety issue. Statistics show breath alcohol ignition interlock devices are very effective in preventing subsequent DUI offenses."

Mothers Against Drunk Driving called this new law one of the most important pieces of DUI legislation passed in Illinois in several years because ignition interlocks stop vehicles from being driven by those who are drunk. New Mexico implemented a similar law two years ago and experienced in the first year a 12 percent reduction in alcohol related-fatalities. Moreover, studies show BAIIDs are effective in reducing subsequent offenses by up to 90 percent while on the vehicle.

DUI offenders are responsible for all costs associated with the BAIID device, which includes an installation fee of approximately $100 and rental and monitoring fees of about $110 per month.

The new law also increases the length of the statutory summary suspension from three months to six months for those offenders that failed the breath alcohol test at time of arrest and from six months to 12 months for those offenders that refused the breath alcohol test at time of arrest.

"Most importantly this new law will help save lives," said White.

Drunk driving is a crime. More importantly, it is not a victimless crime. Nearly 17,000 Americans are killed and more than 700,000 are injured each year in alcohol related traffic crashes .

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