Will my DL be revoked for my 1st DUI?  Can I avoid revocation?  

In Illinois, a conviction for a DUI will result in a mandatory driver's license revocation by the Secretary of State.

 The rules for a revoked license are as follows:

• One DUI conviction results in a revoked license for one year.
• Two DUI convictions in any 20-year period results in a revoked license for five years.
• Three DUI convictions result in a revoked license for 10 years.
• Four DUI convictions result in a revoked license for life.

One way to avoid revocation is through supervision on a first DUI or a Reckless Driving on the second or later DUI. Court Supervision which is a deferred judgment, means that there is no conviction, as long as all of the terms are satisfied, and there are no new arrests. The Secretary of State will take no action to revoke a driver's license when a sentence of Court Supervision is issued. Most first-time DUI offenders are able to avoid a revoked license through supervision.

Failure to complete supervision satisfactorily will result in the court, not the Secretary of State, revoking the defendant's supervision. The supervision is a sentence with the court, not a driver's license. The court will revoke the supervision and re-sentence the defendant. The new sentence will be a conviction, and that will cause the Secretary of State to take action against that person's license.

After revocation, you may only obtain driving relief through the Secretary of State Department of Administrative Hearings. 

There are two types of hearings, informal and formal. If you have only had one DUI arrest, you may have an informal or a formal hearing. If you have had two or more DUI arrests, you are usually required to have a formal hearing.

To properly prepare for a reinstatement hearing, one should seek out a qualified attorney, with extensive knowledge, skill, and experience. Attorney John Callahan has years of experience in Illinois Drivers License Reinstatement Hearings. He has helped countless number of clients get their driving privileges back, and he can help you.