Illinois DUI Penalties

SPRINGFIELD – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed several bills aimed at cracking down on drunk drivers, including more jail time for drunk drivers. While 2004 was the safest on Illinois roads in more than 60 years, the Governor wants to do even more to make Illinois highways the safest they’ve ever been.  Governor Blagojevich signed these new laws as the Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation conduct the largest DUI crackdown in state history during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.  The stepped up enforcement effort began June 27th and runs through July 10th.
 
“Someone dies every day in our state because of drunk drivers.” Gov. Blagojevich said. “We will not tolerate drunk driving, and that’s why I’m signing new laws to crack down on drunk drivers.”
 
The far-reaching, tougher DUI safety measures signed into law today by the Governor range from increasing penalties for DUIs involving death to the creation of the aggravated DUI offense.  Bills signed into law today by the Governor are as follows:
 
Consistency in DUI sentencing: House Bill 887, sponsored by Rep. William Black (R-Danville) and Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago), provides for more consistent sentencing of DUI’s by requiring the prosecution of felony DUI charges be handled by local State’s Attorneys offices. Previously, municipal attorneys were able to prosecute these crimes.

Tougher penalties for driving on a DUI-revoked license: House Bill 888, sponsored by Rep. William Black (R-Danville) and Sen. Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst), toughens penalties for persons caught driving on a license or permit that has been suspended or revoked because of DUI, makes it a class four felony (1-3 years in prison) for the fifth through ninth offenses, a class three felony (2-5 years in prison) for the 10th through 14th offenses and a class 2 felony (3-7 year in prison) for a 15th or greater offense.

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