The direct fines are only a fraction of the true cost of an Illinois first-offense DUI. A realistic total for a first-offense conviction (not supervision) runs $15,000 to $20,000 over the first three years. That includes fines and court costs ($1,500 to $3,000), attorney fees, alcohol evaluation and treatment ($500 to $2,000), DUI risk education ($500), BAIID installation and monitoring for the MDDP period (roughly $1,200 to $1,800), SR-22 insurance surcharge over 36 months (often $4,000 to $8,000 above baseline premiums), license reinstatement fees ($500 range), and lost wages from court dates and license restrictions. Court supervision cuts a large portion of the insurance and reinstatement cost by avoiding the revocation entirely.
