Illinois DUI alcohol interlock law to take effect in 2009

Sep 14, 2008

A new DUI law set to take effect in Illinois Jan. 1, 2009, will require first-time DUI offenders to install in-vehicle alcohol ignition interlock devices.

The devices, called breath alcohol ignition interlock devices, require motorists who have a DUI offense to blow into the device to measure their blood-alcohol content and prevent driving after having consumed alcohol. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White on Aug. 11 was joined by officials with Mothers Against Drunk Driving in raising public awareness of the new law. In 2006, in Illinois, 444 people were killed by drunk drivers, compared with 13,470 people killed nationwide by drunk drivers with a BAC of 0.08 or greater.

The new Illinois law, co-sponsored by state Sen. John Cullerton and state Rep. Robert Molaro, is already being toted as one of the most stringent DUI laws. DUI offenders will have to pay an installation fee of about $100, and rental and monitoring fees of about $110 per month. In addition, DUI offenders that failed BAC tests at the time of arrest will now have six months of statutory summary suspension and 12 months suspension for those offenders who refuse to take a BAC test at the time of arrest. DUI offenders who cause death or great bodily harm, are under age 18, or have a prior conviction for reckless homicide are ineligible for driving relief.