Statutory Summary Suspensions

DUI Arrests & License Suspensions in Illinois

If you were arrested for DUI, you face a statutory summary suspension (SSS). At Johnson Law Group, our Central Illinois Driver’s License Lawyers have over 100 years of collective experience and have successfully handled hundreds of driver's license reinstatement hearings.

We are members of numerous organizations including the American Association for Justice, the Illinois Bar Foundation, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Our accolades include The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and Who's Who of Executives and Professionals.

Information on Statutory Summary Suspensions

A statutory summary suspension is an administrative suspension of your driving privileges as a result of a DUI arrest involving:

• A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or more
• Any trace of impairing drugs in your bloodstream
• Failure to complete a chemical test (blood, breath, or urine)
• Refusal to test for alcohol or drugs

Statutory summary suspensions are effective the 46th day from the date you received notice; the SSS is separate from other criminal charges. Driving relief is available to first offenders after the first 30 days of suspension. In order to obtain relief, a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) must be installed.

Illinois Summary Suspension Reinstatement

In Illinois, at the end of the statutory summary suspension, driving privileges may be reinstated unless otherwise determined by the Secretary of State's office.

The requirements for driving privileges to be reinstated include:

• Suspensions & revocations on driving record must be closed prior to reinstatement
• $250 reinstatement fee ($500 for repeat offenders)
• Reinstatement is valid when Secretary of State's office enters it onto driving record and provisional termination date has passed

Requesting a Statutory Summary Suspension Hearing

Drivers have the right to request a judicial hearing to challenge a statutory summary suspension or a revocation. You have 90 days from the notice date to accomplish this.

During this hearing, the following will be considered:

• Were you properly arrested?
• Were there reasonable grounds to believe you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol?
• Did you refuse to submit to chemical testing?
• Did your chemical test reveal a BAC of .08% or more, or any trace of marijuana or a controlled substance?
• Were you involved in a car accident involving personal injury or death?

Why You Need an Illinois Driver’s License Lawyer!

The judicial hearing is an important opportunity to challenge your summary suspension. If the court rules in your favor, the suspension or revocation will be rescinded and the result of the hearing would be entered on your record. Securing legal representation from Johnson Law Group can be critical during the hearing process. Unfortunately, many drivers who represent themselves have little understanding of the requirements and often walk out of the hearing without getting their license back. You can avoid the pitfalls of representing yourself by working with a member of our skilled legal team.

If you are facing a suspension, contact our office at (309) 565-8825 to schedule a free case evaluation.