Illinois

GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Illinois. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.

  • Alcohol Impaired Driving

    Penalties

    Increased Penalty for High BAC Administrative License Suspension on First Offense Limited Driving Privileges During Suspension
    .16 6 months After 30 days

    Ignition Interlocks

    Mandatory for all convictions; highly incentivized for first convictions

    Other

    Open Container Laws Repeat Offender Laws
    Yes Yes

     

  • Child Passenger Safety

    Child Restraint Required

    Under 2 yrs under 40 lbs and under 40" in rear-facing child restraint

    Under 8 yrs

    Adult Safety Belt Permissible

    8-15 yrs

    Over 40 lbs in rear seat if only lap belt available

  • Distracted Driving

    Hand-Held Ban?

    Yes. Primary law.

    All Cell Phone Ban?

    School Bus Drivers

    Yes. Primary law.

    Novice Drivers

    Drivers under 19. Primary law.

    Text Messaging Ban?

    All drivers. Primary law.

  • Drug Impaired Driving

    DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs

    • Zero tolerance for some drugs

    Marijuana-Specific Laws

    • Possession and Use: Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
    • Impaired Driving: THC per se (5 ng)
  • Mature Drivers

    Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

    4 years

    Provisions for Mature Drivers

    81-86: renewal every 2 years

    87 and over: renewal every year

    75 and over: road test required

     

  • Motorcyclists

    Universal helmet law repealed 1970.

  • Seat Belts

    Type of Law

    Primary

    Who Is Covered?

    16 and over

    In What Seat?

    All

  • Speed and Red Light Cameras

    Speed Cameras

    State Law

    Permitted by state law and city ordinance

    Where Permitted

    In construction or maintenance zones (only when workers are present); in safety zones - within 1/8th of a mile of a school or park district used for recreational purposes in municipalities with a population of 1 million or more inhabitants (only within certain hours)

    Red Light Cameras

    State Law

    Permitted by state law

    Where Permitted

    Specified jurisdictions

  • Speeding and Aggressive Driving

    Rural Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    70 70

    Urban Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    55 55

    Other Limited Access Roads

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    65 55
  • Teen and Novice Drivers

    Full Privilege Minimum Age

    Nighttime driving: 18 years

    Driving with passengers: 17 years

    Learner Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    Minimum Duration (Months)

    Required Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours)
    15 9 50 (10)

    Intermediate Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    		 Nighttime Driving Restriction

    Passenger Restriction (except family, unless noted)
    16

    Sun-Thurs: 10 p.m. - 6 a.m

    Fri-Sat: 11 p.m. - 6 a.m.

    		 First 12 months: no more than 1 under 20