Four-Time DUI Offenders May Be Eligible to Drive Again

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in DUI

Being convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) is always very serious, even if it is your first offense. In addition to expensive fines and possible imprisonment, you will almost certainly be subject to the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license. With multiple convictions, the penalties get much more severe on all fronts. Fines increase, potential prison sentences are longer, and revoked driver’s licenses become harder to reinstate. In fact, according to Illinois law, up until this year, drivers who were convicted of DUI on four separate occasions were automatically subject to a permanent license revocation, meaning they could never legally drive again.

The Old Way of Thinking

The ban on driving for those convicted of DUI four times was based on two premises. First, a person with four DUI convictions had all but proven by his or her actions that he or she could not be trusted to only drive when sober. This, in effect, meant that the person was a threat to public safety. The second idea was that of punishment. Not being able to drive created a serious inconvenience to the individual forcing them to find other modes of transportation.

New Technology, New Opportunities

Over the last several decades, the technology used by law enforcement to measure the blood-alcohol content (BAC) of a driver has become much more readily available to the general public. When integrated into the ignition system of a vehicle, such devices are able to prevent the car from starting if the provided breath sample registers an alcohol content above a certain limit. This means that a driver who is drunk would not be able to start the vehicle, let alone drive it while under the influence, all but eliminating the public danger associated with that person driving while intoxicated.

Last summer, Illinois lawmakers decided that it was time to expand opportunities for those who had been convicted of four DUIs—a number that totaled about 5,000 at the beginning of 2016. Thanks to a new law which took effect on January 1, it is now possible for four-time DUI offenders in Illinois to apply for partial driver’s license reinstatement. Those who are approved will be limited to operating vehicles with a breath-alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) installed on them.

Proof of Rehabilitation

Before an applicant can be approved, the Secretary of State’s Office will require proof that he or she has made changes to his or her life. An applicant may use affidavits, treatment reports, and other evidence to show that he or she has been completely free from drugs and alcohol for three years, and is ready to take a new approach to safe driving.

Getting your license back after a DUI can be challenging, but you do not have to go through the process alone. Contact an experienced Elgin driver’s license reinstatement attorney today for help. Call 847-488-0889 for a free consultation at The The Law Office of Brian J. Mirandola and let us provide the guidance and support you need during a difficult time.

Sources:

http://kwqc.com/2015/09/21/new-illinois-law-to-allow-four-time-dui-offenders-another-chance/

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/baiid3.pdf