Driving Under the Influence (D.U.I.)

Driving Under the Influence

“Driving Under the Influence” is defined as operating a motor vehicle while impairedby alcohol, other drugs, including cannabis (marijuana) prescribed for medicalpurposes, intoxicating compounds, and/or methamphetamine. In Illinois, driversare legally considered to be under the influence if they have a blood-alcohol content(BAC) of .08 or more, a tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis) concentration (THC)of either 5 nanograms or more per milliliter of whole blood or 10 nanograms ormore per milliliter of other bodily substance, have used any other controlled substance, or are impaired by medication.

For detailed information on DUI from the Illinois Secretary of State, check out the 2018 Illinois DUI Fact Book.

How Alcohol Affects a Driver

From the first drink, alcohol affects coordination and judgment. Even with a BACwell below .08, a person’s reaction time slows. The risk of being in a crash beginsto climb with a BAC between .04 and .05 and increases rapidly thereafter. By thetime drivers reach a BAC of .06, they are twice as likely to be involved in a fatalcrash as non-drinking drivers. By the time drivers reach a BAC of .08, they are 11times more likely to be killed in a single-vehicle crash than non-drinking drivers.

Beneficial Information

  • Each of the following has a comparable amount of alcohol and counts as one drink:
    • one 12 ounce glass of beer
    • one 5 ounce glass of wine
    • one 1.5 ounce shot of hard liquor
  • The amount of alcohol in a poured/mixed drink is dependent on the type of drink and the person who pours it
  • The only way to rid the body of alcohol is time -- fresh air, coffee, a shower, and food cannot help a person sober up
    • It takes about one hour for the body to metabolize one drink
  • Alcohol can have different effects on different people.  The same amount of alcohol can effect different people based on numerous factors. Age, genetics, gender, weight, mood, whether or not you've eaten, the type of drink, how fast you drink, and your drinking history can all impact how alcohol will effect you.