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.

Illinois
Motorcycle Helmet Required?

No helmet laws. Universal helmet law repealed 1970.

Illinois
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Illinois
Provisions for Mature Drivers

81-86: renewal every 2 years 87 and over: renewal every year 75 and over: road test required

Illinois
DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs

Zero tolerance for some drugs

Illinois
Marijuana Possession and Use

Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use

Illinois
Marijuana Impaired Driving

THC per se (5 ng)

Illinois
Rural Interstates: Cars (MPH)

70

Illinois
Rural Interstates: Trucks (MPH)

70

Illinois
Urban Interstates: Cars (MPH)

55

Illinois
Urban Interstates: Trucks (MPH)

55

Illinois
Other Limited Access Roads: Cars (MPH)

65

Illinois
Other Limited Access Roads: Trucks (MPH)

55

Illinois
Increased penalty for high BAC

0.16

Illinois
Administrative license suspension on first offense

6 months

Illinois
Limited driving privileges during suspension

After 30 days

Illinois
Ignition Interlocks

Mandatory for all convictions; highly incentivized for first convictions

Illinois
Open container laws

Yes

Illinois
Repeat Offender Laws

Yes

Illinois
Adult Safety Belt Permissible

8-15 yrs

Over 40 lbs in rear seat if only lap belt available

Illinois
Child Restraint Required

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

Under 8 yrs

 

Illinois
Full Privilege Minimum Age

Nighttime driving: 18 years Driving with passengers: 17 years

Illinois
Learner Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)

15

Illinois
Learner Stage: Minimum Duration (Months)

9

Illinois
Learner Stage: Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours in Parenthesis)

50 (10)

Illinois
Intermediate Stage: Minimum Age (Years/Months)

16

Illinois
Intermediate Stage: Nighttime Driving Restriction

Sun-Thurs: 10 p.m. - 6 a.m Fri-Sat: 11 p.m. - 6 a.m.

Illinois
Intermediate Stage: Passenger Restrictions (Except Family, Unless Noted)

First 12 months: no more than 1 under 20

Illinois
Type of Law

Primary

Illinois
Who is Covered?

16 and over

Illinois
In What Seat?

All

Illinois
Hand-Held Ban?

Yes. Primary law.

Illinois
All Cell Phone Ban? School Bus Drivers

Yes. Primary law.

Illinois
All Cell Phone Ban? Novice Drivers

Drivers under 19. Primary law.

Illinois
Text Messaging Ban?

All drivers. Primary law.

Illinois
Red Light Cameras: Where Permitted

Specified jurisdictions

Illinois
Speed Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law and city ordinance

Illinois
Speed Cameras: 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)

Illinois
Red Light Cameras: State Law

Permitted by state law

Impaired Driving Grant Results: Illinois

Since January 1, 2020, Illinois residents 21-years and older can legally purchase cannabis from licensed sellers with or without a medical card. Through a grant funded by GHSA and Responsibility.org, the Illinois State Highway Safety Office used the funding to expand its ability to test drivers arrested for impairment by synthetic opioids by partnering with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Analytical Forensic Toxicology Lab (AFTL).

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