If you are convicted of driving under the influence, known as a DUI, or if you want to find out if another person has a DUI conviction record, you may be alarmed – or happy – to know that in Illinois, DUI conviction records are available to the public. In Illinois, the Uniform Conviction Information Act, or UCIA, allows the public access to criminal records, including DUI convictions. You can request DUI conviction information from either the Illinois State Police or the Illinois Secretary of State. Through the Illinois State Police, you can request the criminal history of an individual and through the Illinois Secretary of State, you can purchase another person's driving record, including information about any DUI convictions.
What Is a DUI in Illinois?
It is illegal to drive any vehicle while impaired by alcohol or other drugs. In Illinois, the blood-content limit is .00 for drivers under 21 and school bus drivers; .04 for those with commercial driver’s licenses; and .08 for all other drivers. It is also illegal to have a cannabis concentration of 5 nanograms or more per milliliter of blood, even if the marijuana is used for medical purposes.
Read More: How do I Get an Illinois State ID Number for an LLC Company?
What Is Available Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act?
Unless the information is sought by a criminal justice agency, the UCIA authorizes only the release of information pertaining to a DUI conviction, including arrest records, states attorney filing decisions, the outcome of any court case and whether the person was remanded to a custodial institution, pending or post-conviction. If there was an arrest for a suspected DUI that did not result in a conviction, such as where a court found the person not guilty or there was an arrest but no charges were brought, the Bureau of Identification may not release that information to the public.
How to Request DUI Records: Illinois State Police
The first way to obtain a DUI conviction record is to request an individual’s criminal history through the Illinois State Police using the person’s name or fingerprints. When a driving record abstract is requested for another person, that individual is notified of the name of the person requesting the records and the date the request was made. Make an online name-based criminal history request through the Illinois State Police’s Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) system. You can also mail a name-based request using the Uniform Conviction Information Act form to:
Illinois State Police, Bureau of Identification
P.O. Box 91008
Chicago, Illinois 60680-8805
Complete the request form with the name, sex, race and date of birth of the individual whose records you want. Each form must include the complete return address of the person requesting the criminal records and a check or money order for $16.
Criminal history requests using an individual’s fingerprints may only be submitted to the Illinois State Police through a licensed live scan fingerprint vendor. You can find a list of licensed vendors on the Illinois State Police website.
How to Request DUI Records: Illinois Secretary of State
The second way to obtain a DUI conviction record is to purchase an individual’s driving record through the Illinois Secretary of State. Complete a driving record abstract request form, including the driver’s license number and/or the name and date of birth of the driver whose record is being requested. This form is available online or at any Illinois Secretary of State facility.
Include with the form a $12 fee, payable by cash, check or money order. Return the form and fee to an Illinois Secretary of State facility or mail it to:
Secretary of State, Driver Analysis Section
2701 South Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, Illinois 62723
Tips
If a UCIA request is made for employment purposes, the applicant's signature must be included on the request form, and the employer is required to keep the signature on file for two years.
References
- State of Illinois: Guide to Understanding Criminal History Record Check Information
- Illinois State Police: Criminal History Information
- Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority: ICJIA Frequently Asked Questions
- Cyber Drive Illinois: 2019 DUI Fact Book
- Cyber Drive Illinois: Purchase of a Driving Record Abstract
Resources
Tips
- If UCIA request is made for employment purposes, the applicant's signature must be included on the request form, and the employer is required to keep the signature on file for two years.
- When a driving record abstract is requested for another person, that individual is notified of the name of the person requesting the records and the date the request was made.
Writer Bio
Sally Brooks is a writer living in New York City with her chunky toddler and patient husband. She graduated magna cum laude from the University Cincinnati College of Law and her work has been featured in Jurist and the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review.