January 1933 Legal age for alcohol consumption established at 21 years of age for males and 18 years of age for females.

January 1946 Illinois safety responsibility law enacted.

January 1958 BAC of 0.15 established as the level at which a driver is presumed to be under the influence of alcohol.

January 1963 Legal minimum drinking age established at 21 years of age

January 1967 Driving while intoxicated (DWI) law changed to included driving under the influence of drugs.

January 1967 Illegal presumption of being under the influence of alcohol lowered to 0.10.

January 1968 Mandatory motorcycle helmet usage law for all riders enacted.

May 1969 Motorcycle helmet usage law repealed

October 1972 Implied consent law implemented.

January 1973 Legal minimum drinking age changed to allow 19 and 20 year olds the right to purchase and consume wine and beer.

February 1974 Maximum speed limit reduced to 55 m.p.h.

January 1980 Legal minimum drinking age re-established at 21 years of age for all consumption, purchase and possession of alcoholic beverages.

January 1986 Color-coded license established for drivers to distinguish between drivers under 21 years of age and older.

January 1986 Statutory summary suspension established to strengthen DUI laws.

January 1988 Safety belt law amended to make non-use of safety belts by drivers and front seat passengers a secondary offense.

January 1990 Mandatory insurance law enacted to require minimum liability limits.

January 1991 Child Passenger Protection Act amended to require any person who transports a child to do so according to the established law. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for providing the safety seat.

January 1995 Zero Tolerance law enacted for drivers under the age of 21.

August 1995 Increased penalties for drivers who do not stop when a school bus has stopped to load or unload passengers.

January 1997 Results of blood or urine tests of drivers receiving medical treatment in hospital emergency rooms for injuries resulting from a crash may be reported to law enforcement for purpose of determining alcohol and/or drug content.

July 1997 DUI/implied consent law amended to establish illegal per se at 0.08 (previously 0.10).

January 1998 School bus drivers caught driving a school bus with any trace of alcohol in their systems lose the school bus driver permit.

January 1998 Graduated driver’s license established for drivers under 21 years of age.

January 1999 Police can seize vehicles from people when involved in the following:
• Reckless Homicide
• DUI while suspended or revoked for DUI, Reckless Homicide, Statutory Summary Suspension, or Leaving the Scene of An Accident (Injury)
• Aggravated DUI (for third DUI)
• Aggravated DUI (second DUI with a prior conviction for Reckless Homicide)

July 2002 Police can seize vehicles from people who drive with licenses suspended or revoked because of drugs or alcohol charges. The law also applies in cases where licenses have been suspended for reckless homicide or leaving an injury crash.

July 2003 Safety belt law amended to make non-use of safety belts by drivers and front seat passengers a primary offense.

Legislation | New Law: Requiring Field Sobriety Testing | Illinois Traffic-Related Key Events