---
title: "Illinois First DUI Fines, Classes, and Community Service: The Cost Sheet"
description: "Illinois first DUI fines, classes, and community service obligations vary sharply based on the tier of the offense. A standard first DUI, a high-BAC first DUI (.16 or higher), and a first DUI with a..."
url: https://chicagoduilawyer.net/illinois-first-dui-fines-classes/
date: 2026-07-02
modified: 2026-07-02
author: "Chicago DUI Lawyer"
image: https://chicagoduilawyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/featured-10476385-3.jpg
categories: ["Uncategorized"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Illinois First DUI Fines, Classes, and Community Service: The Cost Sheet

Illinois first DUI fines, classes, and community service obligations vary sharply based on the tier of the offense. A standard first DUI, a high-BAC first DUI (.16 or higher), and a first DUI with a child under 16 in the vehicle each carry a materially different cost package. This post lays out the actual dollar figures and hour counts side by side so a driver, family member, or bondsman can see the real financial and time exposure. All figures are drawn from the Illinois DUI statute (625 ILCS 5/11-501) and the Illinois Sentencing Code (730 ILCS 5/5-6-1).

## The Three First-DUI Tiers

Illinois treats a first DUI as a Class A misdemeanor across all three tiers, but the mandatory adds change dramatically once aggravating facts appear. The tier framework is:

- **Standard First DUI.** BAC between .08 and .159, no child passenger, no crash injury.

- **High-BAC First DUI.** BAC of .160 or higher, no child passenger.

- **First DUI With a Child Under 16.** A minor passenger under age 16 in the vehicle at the time of the offense.

## Fines Comparison Across the Three Tiers

The base fine range for any first DUI conviction is $500 minimum to $2,500 maximum. What changes is what the state layers on top.

| Fine Component | Standard First DUI | High-BAC First DUI (.16+) | First DUI With Child Under 16 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Statutory minimum fine | $500 | $500 (mandatory) | $1,000 (mandatory) |
| Statutory maximum fine | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Add-on for aggravator | None | Bundled into minimum | Bundled into minimum |
| Typical realistic range | $500 to $1,500 | $750 to $2,000 | $1,000 to $2,500 |

These are just the criminal fines. The full out-of-pocket cost picture is significantly larger once court costs, assessments, and administrative fees are added.

## Court Costs and Assessments on Top of the Fine

Cook County first DUI dispositions carry a stack of statutory assessments layered on top of the criminal fine. A rough breakdown:

| Assessment | Typical Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act base assessment | $325 to $450 |
| DUI Analysis Fund fee | $150 |
| Trauma Center Fund | $100 |
| Drug Court fee | $5 to $10 |
| Roadside Memorial Fund | $5 |
| Total typical stack | $585 to $720 |

These get added to the criminal fine, not deducted from the maximum. A driver hit with a $1,500 fine on a high-BAC first offense actually writes checks totaling closer to $2,200 to $2,500 just on the criminal-side ledger.

## Community Service Hours by Tier

Community service is one of the sharpest dividers between the three tiers.

| Tier | Community Service | Restrictions |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Standard First DUI | Not mandatory, court may impose | General purpose |
| High-BAC First DUI (.16+) | 100 hours mandatory minimum | General purpose |
| First DUI With Child Under 16 | 25 days mandatory minimum | Must benefit children |

The 25-day child-benefiting community service on a child-passenger case is not 25 days of general community service. It has to be work that serves youth programs, and the court requires documentation from a qualifying nonprofit.

## Mandatory Classes and Evaluations

Every first DUI disposition, whether supervision or conviction, requires two things independent of the tier:

- **Formal alcohol and drug evaluation.** Performed by a licensed evaluator, typically costs $200 to $400.

- **DUI Risk Education course.** A 10-hour course for minimum-risk drivers, longer for moderate or significant risk, typically $250 to $500.

Higher-tier evaluations layer on additional treatment: outpatient counseling for moderate risk (typically $500 to $1,500), and intensive outpatient for significant or high risk (typically $1,500 to $3,500). A high-BAC first offender or a child-passenger case is more likely to be scored at least moderate risk, which drives the class cost up.

## License Reinstatement and Interlock Costs

The Statutory Summary Suspension carries its own cost track separate from the criminal case. A first-time offender who takes advantage of the Monitoring Device Driving Permit and interlock program pays:

| Cost Item | Typical Amount |
| --- | --- |
| Secretary of State reinstatement fee | $250 |
| MDDP administrative fee | $30 per month during permit |
| Interlock device installation | $85 to $150 one-time |
| Interlock monthly monitoring | $80 to $120 per month |
| SR-22 insurance surcharge | $500 to $1,500 per year for 3 years |

Over a 6-month test-failure suspension with interlock and SR-22, a driver spends roughly $1,500 to $2,500 just to stay legal behind the wheel.

## Total Realistic First-DUI Cost by Tier

Adding fines, court costs, evaluation, classes, interlock, reinstatement, and SR-22 (excluding legal fees):

| Tier | Low-End Total | High-End Total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Standard First DUI | $3,500 | $6,500 |
| High-BAC First DUI (.16+) | $4,500 | $8,500 |
| First DUI With Child Under 16 | $5,500 | $10,000+ |

These totals do not include legal representation, missed work during court appearances, or long-term auto insurance increases that follow a first DUI for the next three to five years. The full statutory framework for how these fines fit into the penalty structure is on the (https://chicagoduilawyer.net/dui-penalties/) reference.

## Why the Cost Sheet Argues for Court Supervision

Court supervision under 730 ILCS 5/5-6-1(c) is not a conviction, and successfully completing it dismisses the charge. Supervision still costs money (fines, evaluation, class, court costs), but it avoids the 12-month criminal license revocation and the multi-year SR-22 that follow a conviction. On the standard tier, that is often the difference between a $4,000 total exposure and a $6,500 total exposure. On the high-BAC or child-passenger tiers, the delta is larger. A Chicago DUI lawyer who understands the cost math positions the case for supervision when the facts allow.

## Related Pages

- (https://chicagoduilawyer.net/dui-penalties/)

- (https://chicagoduilawyer.net/court-supervision/)

- (https://chicagoduilawyer.net/illinois-dui-license-suspension/)

- (https://chicagoduilawyer.net/dui-information/)

- (https://chicagoduilawyer.net/dui-defense/)

- (https://chicagoduilawyer.net/chicago-aggravated-dui-lawyer/)