When lawmakers want to appear to be strong advocates of public safety,Guest Posting drunk drivers can be an easy target. Nationwide the penalties for drunk driving seem to be increasing without bound. Some states are merely increasing the potential punishments for all drunk drivers, while others are creating new laws specifically targeting highly intoxicated drivers. Consistently though, the trend is clear: the punishments are becoming more severe.Illinois is no exception; beginning January 1, 2009, the penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol in Illinois changed substantially. All people arrested for drunk driving face harsher penalties than they did under the prior laws. For example, first-time offenders now lose their driving privileges for six months, rather than three months, even if they complied with the officer’s request and submitted a BAC level greater than .08.However, these penalties do not affect everyone equally. The changes to the laws governing driving privileges following an arrest for drunk driving have a particularly negative impact on individuals arrested for drunk driving in Illinois who have out-of-state licenses.License Suspension for Illinois Drivers When someone with an Illinois drivers’ license is arrested for DUI in the state, that person is subject to an automatic statutory summary suspensionof driving privileges. This suspension is independent of any criminal charges for DUI and is administered by the Illinois Secretary of State. The length of the suspension depends on the individual’s prior history.Generally an individual is not allowed to drive while his or her license is suspended.

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