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 Illinois DUI penalty tiers 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.