Restoring your driving privileges after an Illinois DUI

When an Illinois law enforcement officer stops your car and charges you with driving under the influence and that charge leads to a conviction, you may lose your license for a set period in addition to facing other penalties. Once your license revocation period ends, you need to take certain steps if you wish to get your license back.

Per the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, to have your driving privileges reinstated in the wake of a DUI conviction, you need to have an otherwise clean driving record. You also need to meet other eligibility requirements.

License reinstatement requirements

Before you may get your license back after a DUI, you need to undergo an alcohol and drug evaluation. If that evaluation reveals that you still have a substance dependency, then you need to undergo treatment and submit proof that you did so before moving forward. Even if your evaluation does not show that you have a substance dependency, you still have to complete a remedial education program before having your license reinstated. You also have to take part in a hearing with an officer from the Secretary of State.

Hearing requirements

During your hearing, you need to prove that you are not a risk to the public if the state reinstates your driver’s license. The officer conducting the hearing then weighs several factors before deciding whether to reinstate your license. These factors include the severity of your offense, your driving history and your attempts to educate yourself and get better.

If the officer decides to reinstate your license, you must pay a reinstatement fee, among other obligations, before you may drive again