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DUI Facts

408 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in Illinois in 2008. This is 39 percent of the 1,043 total crash fatalities.

More than 48,000 DUI arrests were recorded by the Secretary of State's office in 2008.

92% of all drivers arrested for DUI, who were eligible, lost their driving privileges.

21% of those arrested for DUI are women, who represent 50% of all licensed drivers.

The vast majority of those drivers tested for alcohol are at a level of intoxication at or exceeding the legal limit of .08.

83% of all drivers arrested for DUI are first offenders.
Illinois now requires a first-time DUI offender to have a Breath Alcohol Inerlock Device (BAIID) installed on his/her vehicle.
The average cost of a DUI conviction in Illinois is $16,100.00. Note: This does not include medical expenses, compensatory damages awarded to crash survivors, in-patient substance abuse programs, or legal fees for trials and civil proceedings. These costs can add up to over $100,000.00!
The penalties for DUI differ if you are under age 21. Illinois has a zero tolerance law for all drivers under age 21. Any trace of alcohol in any underage driver’s system constitutes a violation and graduated penalties are applied.

Illinois has a two-tiered system that establishes stricter penalities for individuals arrested for driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .16 or greater.

Illinois also has tougher penalties for those individuals who drive under the influence with a minor child (under age 16) in the car.

Profile of an Illinois Drunk Driver

The average DUI offender is:

male (79 percent of those arrested are men)
34 years old (61 percent of those arrested are under 35)
arrested between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on a weekend
caught driving with a BAC level of .16 percent

For more information on Illinois DUI, click here.

(Sources: Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Traffic Safety and the Illinois Secretary of State)

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DUI Facts