July 21, 2008
Illinois 2008 DUI Fact Book Previews New Ignition Interlock Law
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has announced that the 2008 Illinois DUI Fact Book is available. The book is available on White's Web site 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 that requires any first-time DUI offender to have a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) installed in his or her vehicle. The new law is set to take effect Jan 1, 2009. 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. Visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com for more information.
|
|
|