Illinois License Suspension Rules

convictions

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 8: Suspension - Traffic Violations, p. 60

3

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 8: Suspension - Traffic Violations, p. 60; Chapter 3: Related Laws, p. 20

12

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 8: Suspension - Traffic Violations, p. 60

DUI is a direct-action revocation in Illinois, not something counted against the moving-violation tally. A first DUI conviction triggers a minimum one-year revocation of driving privileges; a second within 20 years, a minimum five-year revocation; a third, a minimum 10-year revocation; and a fourth or subsequent conviction, a lifetime revocation. The statutory summary suspension runs separately on the chemical-test result alone: six months for failing a chemical test (BAC of .08 or more), one year for refusing on a first refusal. If the driver was involved in a crash causing serious personal injury or death, refusing chemical testing results in a minimum one-year revocation on top of any conviction outcome.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 6: DUI Conviction, p. 50; Chapter 8: Revocation, pp. 58-59

Reckless driving is also a direct-action offense rather than a points calculation. Three reckless-driving convictions within any 12-month period results in revocation of driving privileges. Any reckless-driving conviction involving great bodily harm, permanent disability, or disfigurement to another person is by itself revocable as Aggravated Reckless Driving. Reckless homicide, including any death that occurs while driving recklessly or while driving on a license suspended or revoked because of an Aggravated DUI, also results in revocation.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 8: Revocation, pp. 58-59

Illinois handles excessive speeding through a mix of direct action and the standard three-convictions-in-12-months rule. Speeding in a posted construction zone when workers are present is the clearest direct-action trigger: a second violation within two years of the previous one results in suspension of the license. A single conviction for failure to reduce speed or change lanes in a construction zone that causes property damage or injury also triggers suspension. Failure to reduce speed or change lanes for a stationary emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals carries the same treatment if it results in property damage or injury. Otherwise, speeding tickets accumulate under the conviction-count rule: three convictions in 12 months (or two in 24 months for drivers under 21) triggers a suspension of at least 30 days, with longer suspensions for more serious offenses.

Source: Illinois Rules of the Road 2025, Chapter 8: Suspension - Construction Zone and Speeding, p. 59-60