Illinois dui, drivers license, revoked, DUI, law, Secretary of State

These 2 stories are the reason we’re here…

HYPOTHETICAL STORY 1

“Bernie”, age 55, has been an alcoholic since his teens. He had 2 DUI convictions in the 1980’s. Following the second DUI, Bernie entered rehab then regularly attended Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and maintained sobriety.

In 1999, Bernie lost his job then found out his wife has cancer. He no longer has health insurance. He feels like a failure. He wants to kill himself so his wife can collect the life insurance money and get treatment. To get courage, he goes to a bar and gets drunk. He’s arrested for a DUI. A couple days later, he tries again, gets drunk, gets another DUI and his Illinois license is revoked.

His friends in AA come to Bernie’s support; help him find another job where he has insurance. When Bernie applies for a restricted Illinois driver’s license, he finds out that he has a lifetime Illinois driver’s license revocation because he’s had four DUI convictions! Bernie has been sober since the two DUI convictions in 1999. He cannot understand why he can’t have a restricted Illinois driving permit requiring a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID). He would gladly pay the price and have a permanent BAIID installed. Bernie says he never killed anyone. Why does he have a lifetime Illinois Driver’s License revocation? Even murderers can get out of jail on probation. Why does he have a lifetime sentence?

If he has the BAIID on the car, how would this person still present a threat or endanger the public’s safety? What if he gives up and drives anyway?

HYPOTHETICAL STORY 2

Jason, a binge-drinker and Illinois resident, got 2 out-of-state DUI convictions in 1986. He pleaded guilty to both cases on the mistaken advice of his attorney. At that time the law stated that each DUI would be wiped off the record in 5 years. Neither DUI was reflected on his Illinois driving record.

In 1992, he's arrested for his 3rd DUI in Illinois. “Assuming” that his 2 prior DUI convictions are not on his Illinois driving record, he pleads guilty to the Illinois DUI and is convicted.

In 2000, Jason is convicted of his 4th DUI in Illinois. He then goes through all of the Court and State mandated relapse prevention programs and becomes involved in AA. When he applies to the Illinois Secretary of State for a restricted driving permit, it's denied because he's had 4 DUI convictions. The State of Illinois has given him a LIFETIME DRIVER’S LICENSE REVOCATION because of his 4 DUI convictions!

It's now 7 years later and Jason has rehabilitated himself. He’s also been an active member of AA this entire time. He’s not touched alcohol for the entire 7 years, yet cannot apply for an Illinois restricted driving permit even with a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID). He’ll be paying the price of a few poor decisions (from almost 20 years ago) for the rest of his life!

Jason stopped drinking so he could get his Illinois license back. What’s stopping him now? How long will it take before Jason says “the heck with this, it’s hopeless” and gets behind the wheel again?…without a BAIID??

We absolutely do not want drunk drivers on the road! There are thousands of people with revoked Illinois licenses driving on Illinois roads and highways at this very moment - see our Facts page. Some of these unlicensed drivers had their Illinois licenses revoked due to four or more DUI convictions. As it stands now, they have no hope of driving legally again in Illinois, so they drive anyway. They have no BAIID, no insurance and, unfortunately, many will end up driving drunk - see our Facts page.

We are dedicated to making Illinois roads safer and are trying to amend the current Illinois DUI law pertaining to lifetime driver’s license revocation for four or more DUI convictions. We are trying to pass an amendment that will provide a restricted Illinois driving permit, requiring a BAIID, to certain individuals with lifetime revocations. Wouldn't it be better to know that these individuals cannot start their vehicles if under the influence of alcohol? Right now, so many are driving without a license or insurance. If they do drink, there is nothing stopping them from driving and endangering the public safety…

This makes sense. More importantly, it can only serve to keep our streets and highways safer. Let’s reduce the number of Illinois revoked drivers that get behind the wheel without a BAIID device. If these people have hope of obtaining another chance with a BAIID, they may be more willing to seek the help they need to live a sober life.

See our Facts page for this alarming statistic in the State of Illinois. It takes this committee’s efforts in Springfield to bring forth this change.

Please read through our site. As you can imagine the costs are high. We need your support. Please consider donating to help us in this effort.

We thank you for the time you’ll hopefully spend on our site. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or for additional information not contained in these pages.


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These 2 stories are the reason we’re here… HYPOTHETICAL STORY 1 “Bernie”, age 55, has been an alcoholic since his teens. He had 2 DUI convictions in the 1980’s. Following the second DUI, Bernie entered rehab then regularly attended Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and maintained sobriety. In 1999, Bernie lost his job then found out his wife has cancer. He no longer has health insurance. He feels like a failure. He wants to kill himself so his wife can collect the life insurance money and get treatment. To get courage, he goes to a bar and gets drunk. He’s arrested for a DUI. A couple days later, he tries again, gets drunk, gets another DUI and his Illinois license is revoked. His friends in AA come to Bernie’s support; help him find another job where he has insurance. When Bernie applies for a restricted Illinois driver’s license, he finds out that he has a lifetime Illinois driver’s license revocation because he’s had four DUI convictions! Bernie has been sober since the two DUI convictions in 1999. He cannot understand why he can’t have a restricted Illinois driving permit requiring a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID). He would gladly pay the price and have a permanent BAIID installed. Bernie says he never killed anyone. Why does he have a lifetime Illinois Driver’s License revocation? Even murderers can get out of jail on probation. Why does he have a lifetime sentence? *If he has the BAIID on the car, how would this person still present a threat or endanger the public’s safety? What if he gives up and drives anyway?* HYPOTHETICAL STORY 2 Jason, a binge-drinker and Illinois resident, got 2 out-of-state DUI convictions in 1986. He pleaded guilty to both cases on the mistaken advice of his attorney. At that time the law stated that each DUI would be wiped off the record in 5 years. Neither DUI was reflected on his Illinois driving record. In 1992, he's arrested for his 3rd DUI in Illinois. “Assuming” that his 2 prior DUI convictions are not on his Illinois driving record, he pleads guilty to the Illinois DUI and is convicted. In 2000, Jason is convicted of his 4th DUI in Illinois. He then goes through all of the Court and State mandated relapse prevention programs and becomes involved in AA. When he applies to the Illinois Secretary of State for a restricted driving permit, it's denied because he's had 4 DUI convictions. The State of Illinois has given him a LIFETIME DRIVER’S LICENSE REVOCATION because of his 4 DUI convictions! It's now 7 years later and Jason has rehabilitated himself. He’s also been an active member of AA this entire time. He’s not touched alcohol for the entire 7 years, yet cannot apply for an Illinois restricted driving permit even with a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID). He’ll be paying the price of a few poor decisions (from almost 20 years ago) for the rest of his life! Jason stopped drinking so he could get his Illinois license back. What’s stopping him now? How long will it take before Jason says “the heck with this, it’s hopeless” and gets behind the wheel again?…without a BAIID?? We absolutely do not want drunk drivers on the road! There are thousands of people with revoked Illinois licenses driving on Illinois roads and highways at this very moment - see our Facts page. Some of these unlicensed drivers had their Illinois licenses revoked due to four or more DUI convictions. As it stands now, they have no hope of driving legally again in Illinois, so they drive anyway. They have no BAIID, no insurance and, unfortunately, many will end up driving drunk - see our Facts page. We are dedicated to making Illinois roads safer and are trying to amend the current Illinois DUI law pertaining to lifetime driver’s license revocation for four or more DUI convictions. We are trying to pass an amendment that will provide a restricted Illinois driving permit, requiring a BAIID, to certain individuals with lifetime revocations. Wouldn't it be better to know that these individuals cannot start their vehicles if under the influence of alcohol? Right now, so many are driving without a license or insurance. If they do drink, there is nothing stopping them from driving and endangering the public safety… This makes sense. More importantly, it can only serve to keep our streets and highways safer. Let’s reduce the number of Illinois revoked drivers that get behind the wheel without a BAIID device. If these people have hope of obtaining another chance with a BAIID, they may be more willing to seek the help they need to live a sober life. See our Facts page for this alarming statistic in the State of Illinois. It takes this committee’s efforts in Springfield to bring forth this change. Please read through our site. As you can imagine the costs are high. We need your support. Please consider donating to help us in this effort. We thank you for the time you’ll hopefully spend on our site. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or for additional information not contained in these pages.