How Illinois DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Illinois is prosecuted in the Circuit Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
Illinois circuit courts have exclusive original jurisdiction over every DUI case, misdemeanor and aggravated (felony) alike. Appeals from a circuit court DUI conviction go to the Illinois Appellate Court, organised into five judicial districts, with further review possible in the Illinois Supreme Court.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at illinoiscourts.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Illinois
A DUI case in Illinois is heard in the Circuit Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 90 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under 625 ILCS 5/11-501 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Illinois's implied-consent section, 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 90 days — A statutory summary suspension is imposed administratively for a BAC of 0.08 or more, or a refusal, beginning 46 days after notice. You have 90 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Illinois Secretary of State, Driver Services Department; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the Circuit Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the Circuit Court. Illinois circuit courts have exclusive original jurisdiction over every DUI case, misdemeanor and aggravated (felony) alike.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Circuit court filings go through the statewide Odyssey eFileIL system.
- 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $500–$2,500, jail exposure up to 1 year, a licence suspension of 6 months, an ignition interlock requirement. Prior offenses within 5 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. The statutory summary suspension starts on the 46th day; a BAIID normally allows driving relief.
- 6Reinstatement — Relief is sought through the Department of Administrative Hearings, for a Restricted Driving Permit or full reinstatement. Illinois requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Illinois
- Circuit court filings go through the statewide Odyssey eFileIL system.
- A statutory summary suspension begins automatically 46 days after notice of a BAC of 0.08 or more, or a refusal.
- The Secretary of State's Department of Administrative Hearings decides formal and informal hearings on driving privileges.
- Aggravated DUI is charged under 625 ILCS 5/11-501(d) and tried in circuit court.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Illinois ZIP codes covered
These Illinois ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Illinois resources
Counties
Other Illinois official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Illinois?
- First-offense DUI cases in Illinois are heard in the Circuit Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Illinois?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the IL driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 90 days of arrest.