Chicago Drivers License Reinstatement Blog

In Illinois, a DUI conviction results in the mandatory revocation of driving privileges under 625 ILCS 5/6-205. This revocation is not time-limited and does not terminate automatically. Instead, individuals seeking to regain driving privileges must formally petition the Illinois Secretary of State for reinstatement. This process typically requires attending a hearing, testifying, and submitting specific documentation.

The Illinois Secretary of State has launched a pilot program that allows approved petitioners to pick up their permits at designated locations in the Chicago area. This initiative is designed to offer greater convenience and faster access to driving privileges for those who have completed the required steps to obtain a permit. This article provides an overview of how this pilot program works.

Finding the best license reinstatement attorney for a particular case requires clear goals and careful evaluation. This article outlines key factors to guide clients on hiring the best attorney for their specific case, while highlighting considerations during the consultation process.

This article explains the nature of Victim Impact Panels in Illinois, contrasts VIPs with DUI treatment, details the process for completing a panel, and provides county‑by‑county information on approved providers.

Illinois imposes various regulations on the transportation of alcohol and marijuana in motor vehicles. These laws differ from alcohol or marijuana-related DUI laws in Illinois. However, a violation can result in a criminal offense, as well as a suspension or revocation of driving privileges. This page explains the relevant legal standards, consequences for a violation,…

After a driver’s license revocation, a person may wonder if their revocation is visible to out-of-state licensing agencies. A revoked driver may believe that it is easier to obtain a driver’s license in a new state, rather than attempt to clear the revocation in their home state. However, due to the PDPS database, a revocation in one state should be visible to all other state driver’s licensing agencies.

As of July 1, 2024, Illinois has adopted a major change in its approach to non-citizen driver’s licenses. The state now offers a standard four-year driver’s license to undocumented immigrants and other non-citizen residents. These licenses bear the label “Federal Limits Apply,” and replace the former Temporary Visitor Driver’s License (TVDL), which was limited in both function and appearance. The legal framework supporting this shift is part of the legal trend to expand access to driving privileges, improve public safety, and reduce discrimination across Illinois communities.

For many first-time DUI offenders in Illinois, the Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP) provides a critical opportunity to maintain limited driving privileges during a statutory summary suspension. At Wirth Law, with offices in both Chicago and Naperville, we help Illinois drivers navigate driver’s license suspensions and revocations to get them legally back on the road…

Many of our clients are confused about why they were issued a DUI ticket without having driven a vehicle. We attempt to explain the legal basis for the ticket, as well as the legislative rationale in this article. Click here to view our explainer video on why Illinois includes “actual physical control” in their DUI…

Jennifer Wirth, Attorney at Law, has over two decades of experience with driver’s license reinstatement hearings in Illinois. She has won many awards for dedication to client service, including the Avvo’s Client Choice Award and the Martindale Client Champion Award. Wirth wins driving privileges for first-time clients in over 95 percent of cases on an…