What a DUI Costs a Driver in Will County
A DUI costs more than the fine. Illinois adds court costs, an alcohol evaluation, license reinstatement fees, possible ignition interlock charges and higher insurance. A first offense is a Class A misdemeanor with a fine of up to $2,500, and the fee list grows from there. Your total depends on the charge, your record and what the judge orders.
Your deadlines
- Day 46. Your statutory summary suspension starts, counted from the day you got the notice.
- Day 90. The last day to file a petition to rescind that suspension.
The costs the law sets
Some amounts are written into Illinois statutes. This table lists amounts set in Illinois statutes. It is a partial list, because the court adds its own costs.
| Cost | Amount | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Fine, Class A misdemeanor (first and second DUI) | Minimum $75, up to $2,500 or the amount set for the offense, whichever is greater | 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55(e) |
| Fine, felony DUI | Up to $25,000 or the amount set for the offense, whichever is greater | 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-50(b) |
| First DUI with an alcohol concentration of 0.16 or more | Mandatory minimum fine of $500 and 100 hours of community service | 625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(4) |
| Second DUI at 0.16 or more | Mandatory minimum fine of $1,250 and 2 days in jail | 625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(5) |
| Child under 16 in the car | Mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 and 25 days of community service | 625 ILCS 5/11-501(c)(3) |
| Hospital blood draw after a guilty finding | Up to $500 owed by the driver | 625 ILCS 5/11-501.01(j) |
| Reinstatement after a summary suspension | $250 for a first suspension, $500 if you have a second or later DUI related suspension | 625 ILCS 5/6-118(b) |
| Reinstatement after a revocation | $500 | 625 ILCS 5/6-118(b) |
| Restricted driving permit or monitoring device driving permit | $8 each | 625 ILCS 5/6-118(a) |
Costs the statutes leave open
Several bills have no single amount in the law.
- The evaluation. A judge must order an alcohol and drug evaluation before sentencing or supervision, and you pay the program (625 ILCS 5/11-501.01(a)). Treatment or classes the evaluation recommends cost extra.
- The victim impact panel. The court may order it, and the fees come from you (625 ILCS 5/11-501.01(b)).
- Ignition interlock. A second or later conviction brings at least 5 years of interlock on every vehicle you own, with a monthly payment to the Secretary of State of up to $30 (625 ILCS 5/11-501.01(e)). The device maker charges its own installation and monthly fees, and no statute sets those.
- Court costs and assessments. The clerk adds these to the fine. They differ by county and by case.
- Insurance. Insurers set their own rates after a DUI. No official Illinois figure is used on this page.
- Lost time. Court dates, classes, check ins and rides to work all cost money, even when no bill arrives.
Why there is no single total
The Illinois Secretary of State publishes a DUI Fact Book that gives an average total cost for a DUI. This page does not quote an average. Your own total can sit well above or below any average, because it depends on the facts listed above.
For a rough tally of the items you may face, try the DUI cost estimator.
Arrested for DUI? Call Jeff now.
The license clock starts the day you get the notice. During office hours, Jeff answers the phone himself.Office hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 10 AM to noon. After hours, leave your name, number and the best time to call back.
Jeff McCarthy, Inspired Law Group, 136 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441
What changes the cost of a defense
Jeff does not post prices on this site, because no two DUI cases take the same work. These are the things that move the cost of defending one:
- The charge. A misdemeanor first offense is a smaller case than a felony or aggravated charge with a crash or a child in the car.
- Your prior record. Earlier DUI cases, a revoked license or an out of state conviction add issues to sort out.
- License hearings. A petition to rescind the summary suspension, a restricted permit request or a Secretary of State hearing are each extra steps. See the petition to rescind page.
- Test evidence. Cases built on a breath machine, a blood draw or a drug test may need records requests and lab review.
- Trial. A case that ends at a plea takes less court time than a case that is tried to a judge or jury.
What happens next
- Write down your ticket, court date and any suspension notice. These show the charge level.
- Gather any paperwork you already have, such as the bond slip and test printout.
- Call Jeff and ask what your case is likely to involve.
- Plan for the fixed costs in the table, so the court and the Secretary of State bills are not a surprise.
- Ask Jeff which steps can wait and which cannot, since the suspension deadlines do not move.
How Jeff helps
- Explains which of the costs in this list apply to your charge, and which do not.
- Tells you up front which license steps your case needs, so you can plan the work.
- Looks for ways to avoid the costs that come with a conviction, such as the revocation and interlock rules for repeat offenses.
- Keeps the case moving on the dates that carry fees, like the suspension start date.
- Answers fee questions on the first call, in plain words.
Jeff explains how his own fees work on the first call, once he knows what your case involves.
Sources
Reviewed by Jeff McCarthy, Attorney, Inspired Law Group, 136 E 9th St, Lockport, IL 60441.
Questions people ask about dui cost
Short answers first. Jeff McCarthy reviews every answer on this page.
The law sets a fine of up to $2,500 for a Class A misdemeanor, plus $250 to reinstate after the summary suspension, and $500 more after a revocation if you are convicted. Evaluation, classes, insurance and court costs are added, so there is no single total.
It is $250 after a first statutory summary suspension and $500 after a revocation, or after a second or later DUI related suspension. The amounts come from 625 ILCS 5/6-118(b).
If you are found guilty, you can owe up to $500 for a blood draw that was done at the police request. Check the statute for the exact conditions.
Yes. The Secretary of State can charge up to $30 a month to MDDP holders and to repeat offenders with a required interlock, and the device company bills its own installation and monthly fees.
Insurers decide that for themselves, so ask yours. No Illinois statute sets the new rate.
It depends on the charge, your record, any license hearings and whether the case goes to trial. Jeff explains it on the first call.
Keep reading
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Every case comes down to its facts and its deadlines. Talk with Jeff McCarthy so you can:
- Get clear on your legal options.
- Avoid costly mistakes.
- Know what happens next, and when.
