Illinois DUI Glossary

Administrative revocation
A revocation of driving privileges, after which a license may only be reinstated with a hearing through the Illinois Secretary of State
Aggravated DUI
A DUI offense resulting in felony charges.
BAC
Abbreviation for “blood alcohol content.” BACs of 0.08% or over are considered DUI in Illinois; drivers under the legal drinking of age are DUI if their BAC exceeds 0.00%.
Breathalyzer
A machine that measures BAC.
Dram shop
A term applied to a case in which an owner or employee of a store that sells liquor is prosecuted for contributing to the DUI.
DUI
Driving under the influence of alcohol, medication, or drugs.
Field sobriety test
A test performed at the time of arrest to ascertain whether a person may be intoxicated.
Implied consent
Illinois’ implied consent law states that a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon the public highways of the State shall be deemed to have given consent to a chemical test or tests of blood, breath or urine for the purpose of determining the content of alcohol in the blood.
Per se
DUI law that states that a person is DUI if their blood alcohol content exceeds 0.08%, regardless of whether the person is driving in a dangerous fashion.
Probable cause
A circumstance that leads a law enforcement official to reasonably believe that you are under the influence of alcohol, leading to a pullover and possible arrest.
Open container
An open or unsealed container of alcohol in a car to which the car’s passengers and driver have access. Open containers can be cause for additional fines and charges in a DUI case.
Statutory summary suspension
An administrative process in which the license is suspended due to refusal to submit to blood alcohol content testing or failure of such a test.
Zero tolerance law
An Illinois law stating that any driver under the age of 21 found operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol faces an immediate license suspension.

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