Suspended license in Illinois: points, other causes, and how to reinstate

How the points system works

Most states assign points to moving violations and suspend the license when the total inside a set window crosses a threshold. The threshold, the window and how long each violation keeps counting are all set by the state.

Illinois suspends a driver 21 or older convicted of three traffic violation convictions committed within a 12-month period (two within 24 months if under 21). The Secretary of State's offense table assigns points to each conviction, and the point total from those convictions sets the length of the suspension or whether a revocation is entered (15–44 points: 2 months, up to 110 or more: revocation, for a driver with no prior suspension in seven years).

Points period stated by the agency: 1 year. The three convictions must be for offenses committed within a 12-month period, and no suspension may be entered more than six months after the last conviction; prior suspensions within a seven-year period raise the suspension length for the same point total. The Rules of the Road state certain revocations, suspensions, denials and cancellations can remain on the driving record permanently.

“POINT TABLE Number of Points Action 0 through 14 No Action 15 through 44 2-month suspension 45 through 74 3-month suspension 75 through 89 6-month suspension 90 through 99 9-month suspension 100 through 109 12-month suspension 110 or more Revocation”

“that were committed within a 12-month period shall be identified by the Department for review for possible driver's license and driving privilege suspension or revocation pursuant to IVC Section 6-206(a)(2), provided no more than six months has elapsed between the effective date of the suspension”

Check points or the driving record: ilsos.gov

Traffic school and point reduction

Court supervision is a disposition granted by the court, not the Secretary of State. Under 730 ILCS 5/5-6-3.1(e)–(f), on successful completion the court discharges the defendant and enters a judgment dismissing the charges, and the discharge is not a conviction; the Secretary of State's offense table assigns points only to convictions. The Rules of the Road state that a driver under 21 must attend traffic safety school to obtain court supervision for a traffic violation and is limited to one supervision for serious traffic offenses.

“At the conclusion of the period of supervision, if the court determines that the defendant has successfully complied with all of the conditions of supervision, the court shall discharge the defendant and enter a judgment dismissing the charges.”

Other reasons a license is suspended, and what ends each one

These are the causes the licensing agency itself lists on its suspension pages, with what it requires to lift each one. Court-imposed suspensions and DUI suspensions are covered on the state's DUI pages.

Reinstating after a non-DUI suspension

Reinstatement fee: $70. The Secretary of State lists $70 for each discretionary (traffic-related), failure-to-appear, family responsibility (child support), parking/tollway/automated-traffic, safety responsibility, unsatisfied judgment and zero-tolerance suspension; $100 for a mandatory insurance conviction suspension; $500 for a revocation; and $250/$500 for statutory summary suspensions. 625 ILCS 5/6-118(b) sets the $70 fee for suspensions under the Safety and Family Financial Responsibility Law and other suspensions and the $500 revocation fee.

“Discretionary Suspension (Traffic Related Suspension) — $70 fee for each Suspension | Failure to Appear in Court Suspension (Court Related Suspension) — $70 fee for each Suspension | Family Responsibility (DHFS or Court Ordered Child Support Suspension) — $70 fee for each Suspension”

1. Confirm the current mailing address with Driver Services

   The Secretary of State states that without a current address the office cannot mail information on driving status, and a new address must be filed before the reinstatement fee is paid.

   “If you have a new address, please change your address before paying your reinstatement fee.”

2. Serve the suspension period and meet any other conditions

   A suspension for a specific length of time ends when the period has run and the reinstatement fee is paid; in some cases the license is not returned until other requirements, stated in the Secretary of State's correspondence, are met.

   “When the suspension is for a specific length of time, you may regain your driving privileges after the suspension has ended and you have paid a reinstatement fee. In some cases, your driver’s license will not be returned until other requirements are met.”

3. Pay the reinstatement fee

   Fees listed on the reinstatement page may be paid online with a card (a processor fee is added) by entering the license number, name, date of birth, gender and last four SSN digits; otherwise by phone at 217-782-6212 or in person at a facility. Paying the fee does not by itself reinstate the license.

   “Please note that paying reinstatement fees may not necessarily reinstate your driver's license. Please refer to your recent correspondence from our office regarding all the conditions required prior to license reinstatement.”

4. Obtain a new license

   All reinstatement fees must be paid before a new driver's license is issued.

   “All reinstatement fees must be paid prior to issuance of a new Driver's License.”

Official page: ilsos.gov

After a DUI the steps are different: how to get a license back after a DUI in Illinois.

Driving during a non-DUI suspension

Available · Restricted Driving Permit (RDP); Probationary License; Occupational Driving Permit. The Rules of the Road describe a Restricted Driving Permit allowing driving during certain times and along specified routes for work, education, child day care, medical care or drug treatment (not issued under age 16); a Probationary License, issued with a driver improvement course, granting full privileges to a driver 21 and over suspended for three moving violations in 12 months; and an Occupational Driving Permit for a professional driver suspended for three moving violations. Under 625 ILCS 5/6-206(c)(2) an occupational driving privilege is preserved for a three-conviction suspension on an affidavit, fee and permit issued before the effective date, unless 5 offenses were committed.

“Probationary License — Allows a driver age 21 and over whose license has been suspended for three moving violations in a 12-month period to operate a vehicle during the period of suspension. The permit is issued in conjunction with the completion of a driver improvement course.”

For the privilege after a DUI, see driving after a DUI in Illinois.