Illinois’s Implied Consent Law Requires Drivers to Take an Alcohol or Drug Test

In most DUI cases, the arresting officer asks the driver to take a breath, blood, or urine test. The results of these tests can form the basis for a DUI arrest and provide prosecutors with evidence to prove a DUI charge at trial. Drivers are often understandably reluctant to take one of these tests. However, under Illinois's implied consent law, refusing to test carries certain consequences.

This article explains how Illinois's implied consent law works and the penalties you'll face for refusing to test.

Illinois's DUI Implied Consent Requirements

Under Illinois's implied consent law, any person who drives or is in "actual physical control" of a motor vehicle is deemed to have given consent to chemical testing of breath, blood, urine, and/or another bodily substance.

Circumstances That Require DUI Suspects to Take a Breathalyzer or Other Test in Illinois

A police officer is authorized to request a chemical test if there's probable cause to believe the person is driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, intoxicating compounds, or any combination thereof and the person:

• is arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), or
• was involved in a personal injury or fatal motor vehicle accident.

The officer gets to decide whether to administer a breath, blood, urine, or other bodily substance test. After a blood and/or breath test has been administered, up to two additional tests of urine or other bodily substances can be conducted.

Consequences of Refusing a Breathalyzer or Other DUI Testing in Illinois

Before administering a chemical test, the arresting officer must advise drivers of the consequences of refusing a test. These consequences include license suspension, ineligibility for a restricted license during suspension, and the use of the refusal in court to prove a DUI charge.

Statutory Summary Suspensions for Breathalyzer and Testing Refusal in Illinois

The Illinois Secretary of State will automatically suspend an offender's driving privileges for refusing to submit to chemical testing. This type of administrative license suspension is known as a "statutory summary suspension."

The suspension periods are for:

• one year, if the motorist doesn't have a prior DUI conviction or statutory summary suspension within the last five years, and
• three years, if the motorist has a prior DUI conviction or a statutory summary suspension with the last five years.

The statutory summary suspension takes effect on the 46th day after the date the offender received notice. The officer will generally take possession of the offender's license at the time of the arrest and issue a 45-day driving permit.

Illinois Driver Who Refuse Testing are Ineligible for a Monitoring Device Driving Permit

Generally, a first offender whose driving privileges have been summarily suspended can obtain a monitoring device driving permit (MDDP). As long as the vehicle is equipped with a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID), the permit allows the person to drive for any purpose and at any time during the statutory summary suspension. However, drivers who refused chemical testing aren't eligible for an MDDP.

Illinois Drivers are Liable for the Expense of Blood Tests

A person who is subject to a chemical test of blood may be liable for the expense of the blood test (up to $500) if:

• the person refused to submit to a breath test, or
• there's probable cause to believe the test would disclose the use of drugs or intoxicating compounds.

But the offender is responsible for the costs of the blood test only if convicted of DUI in court.

Evidence of the Refusal Can Be Used Against a Defendant in the Criminal DUI Case in Illinois

Another consequence of refusing a chemical test is that the prosecutor is allowed to present evidence of the refusal in the criminal case if the defendant is on trial for DUI. This rule allows prosecutors to suggest to the judge or jury that the refusal is evidence of the defendant's guilt. In other words, a prosecutor might argue that the driver refused chemical testing to conceal evidence of intoxication.

Deciding Whether to Submit to Chemical Testing in Illinois

A motorist can generally refuse to submit to chemical testing, but the penalties for refusing are more severe than submitting to and failing a test.

There are also situations allowing an officer to administer a chemical test without the driver's consent. For example, if an officer has probable cause to believe a vehicle driven by a person under the influence has caused personal injury or death to another person, the driver must submit to a chemical test.