Drivers With 4+ DUIs Could Be Back On The Road Under New Law
By Kate Shepherd in News on Sep 21, 2015 3:44PM
A controversial new law could allow thousands of Illinois drivers who have been convicted of drunk driving four times and as a result, lost their driver’s licenses for good, back on the road again, according to the Sun-Times.
The law, recently passed by Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois General Assembly would allow drivers whose licenses have been revoked for at least five years due to DUI offenses to apply for a restricted driving permit. It takes effect Jan. 1.
The drivers would have to prove that they've been sober for three years and equip their cars with a "breath ignition interlock device," which would prevent them from driving drunk again.
DUIs remain a major problem in Illinois, particularly in the Chicago area. In 2013, Chicago police made 3,395 arrests for DUIs, according to a study by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists. And some believe that the law lets DUI drivers off too easily when they fatally strike others on the road. But supporters of this new bill see it as a chance to offer a second chance to people who want to start over.
"I see it as a matter of redemption and safety because a lot of these people are driving anyway to provide for a family or themselves," bill sponsor Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) told the Sun-Times. "So we might as well make it legal. I believe people can change and turn their lives around."
Read more about the law from the Sun-Times.