Illinois DUI Defense, Criminal
Defense & Driver's License
Reinstatement Attorneys
Defense & Driver's License
Reinstatement Attorneys
Lake County & Waukegan Driving on a Suspended or Revoked License Lawyer
If you were charged with driving on a suspended or revoked license in Waukegan or anywhere in Lake County, your case will usually be heard at one of three branch courthouses (Mundelein, Park City or Round Lake Beach), not the main courthouse in Waukegan. It is a criminal charge, usually a Class A misdemeanor with up to 364 days in jail, and it can be a felony if your license was suspended or revoked for DUI and you have a prior violation. The Davis Law Group, P.C. defends these cases in Lake County and, where the law allows, works to fix the suspension or revocation. Call our Waukegan office at (224) 361-2800 for a free consultation.
Free consultation · Call (224) 361-2800, 24/7
This page covers what is specific to Lake County. For a general overview of Illinois law, see our page on driving on a suspended or revoked license in Illinois.
What Is the Charge?
Driving while license suspended (DWLS) or driving while license revoked (DWLR) is charged under 625 ILCS 5/6-303. You can be charged if you drive, or are in actual physical control of, a vehicle on an Illinois road while your license, permit or privilege to drive is suspended or revoked by Illinois or another state. The charge applies even if you never held an Illinois license, because your privilege to obtain one can be suspended or revoked.
A valid permit is the main exception. Driving within the terms of a restricted driving permit (RDP) or monitoring device driving permit (MDDP) is not a violation. Driving outside those terms is.
Some suspensions are treated differently. If your only suspension is for unpaid parking or automated traffic tickets (625 ILCS 5/6-306.5) or under the family financial responsibility law (625 ILCS 5/7-702), the officer issues a Uniform Traffic Citation instead, and it becomes a Class A misdemeanor only after 3 or more of those citations go unpaid.
Penalties by Level
| Situation | Level | Minimum sentence required by law |
|---|---|---|
| First violation, most suspensions or revocations | Class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days in jail, fine up to $2,500) | None, and court supervision may be possible |
| Suspension or revocation was for DUI, a statutory summary suspension, or leaving the scene of a crash with injury or death | Class A misdemeanor | 10 consecutive days in jail or 30 days of community service, which the judge cannot reduce |
| Second violation (general) | Class A misdemeanor | 100 hours of community service |
| Second violation, and both the current and prior violation were during a DUI, summary suspension or leaving-the-scene based suspension or revocation | Class 4 felony (1 to 3 years in prison, fine up to $25,000) | 30 days in jail or 300 hours of community service |
| Third or later violation (general) | Class A misdemeanor | 30 days in jail or 300 hours of community service |
| Third violation, DUI-based as above | Class 4 felony | 30 days in jail |
| Fourth through ninth violation, DUI-based | Class 4 felony | 180 days in jail |
| Tenth through fourteenth violation, DUI-based | Class 3 felony | Not eligible for probation |
| Fifteenth or later violation, DUI-based | Class 2 felony | Not eligible for probation |
| Driving during a summary suspension when you were eligible for an MDDP, or driving a car without a required ignition interlock (BAIID) | Class 4 felony | 30 days in jail |
| Second or later violation that causes a crash with injury or death | Class 4 felony |
Stricter rules apply when a license was revoked for reckless homicide or aggravated DUI causing death, including Class 1 and Class 2 felony levels with mandatory prison.
Court supervision. For many first misdemeanor charges, a Lake County judge can order court supervision, which is not a conviction if you complete it successfully. The law bars supervision in some cases, including a DUI-based suspension or revocation where you had a DWLS/DWLR conviction or supervision in the last 10 years, and a summary suspension where you were eligible for an MDDP but did not get one, or drove without the required BAIID.
Your car. If your license was suspended or revoked for DUI, a summary suspension, leaving the scene of an injury crash, or reckless homicide, the car you were driving can be seized and forfeited. If you also had no insurance, police must impound the car on the spot. Separately, Illinois law lets cities and counties impound vehicles in DWLS cases and charge an administrative fee on top of towing and storage.
What Happens to Your License?
A DWLS or DWLR conviction makes the original problem worse, which is why the license side matters as much as the court case.
- Suspended license: after a conviction, the Secretary of State extends your suspension for the same length as the original suspension. If the original suspension already ended, it suspends you again for that same length.
- Revoked license: after a conviction, the Secretary of State cannot issue you a license for at least one more year from the conviction date.
- Driving without a required BAIID: after a conviction, no license for an additional year.
- Revocation for reckless homicide or aggravated DUI causing death: a first DWLR conviction adds 3 years.
Because these extensions are triggered by a conviction, the outcome of your Lake County case directly changes when you can drive legally again. Successfully completed court supervision is not a conviction, so it does not trigger these extensions.
Where Will My Case Be Heard in Lake County?
Lake County is the 19th Judicial Circuit. Most misdemeanor driving on a suspended or revoked license cases are heard at one of three branch courthouses, depending on the police department that wrote the ticket. Felony cases are heard in Waukegan.
Mundelein Branch Court
105 E. State Route 83, Mundelein, IL 60060 (southwest corner of Routes 83/60 and Diamond Lake Road). Free on-site parking. Courthouse phone: (847) 377-3300. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. More: Mundelein courthouse.
North Branch Court (Round Lake Beach)
1792 Nicole Lane, Round Lake Beach, IL 60073 (west side of Nicole Lane, just north of Rollins Road). Free on-site parking. Courthouse phone: (847) 377-3400. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. More: Round Lake Beach courthouse.
Park City Branch Court
301 S. Greenleaf Avenue, Park City, IL 60085 (east side of Greenleaf between Washington Street and Belvidere Road). Parking in the lot west of the entrance. Courthouse phone: (847) 377-3500. More: Park City courthouse.
Felony cases: Lake County Courthouse, Waukegan
Felony DWLS/DWLR charges are heard at the main Lake County Courthouse, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085. More: Waukegan courthouse.
What to Expect in Court
- First appearance: your ticket lists the courthouse, date and time. Missing it can lead to a warrant and another suspension.
- Who prosecutes: at the branch courts, depending on the arresting agency, the case is handled by a village prosecutor or by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
- Your driving abstract: the prosecution proves prior violations with a certified copy of your Secretary of State driving record, so we review it before your first court date.
- Timing: most misdemeanor cases take more than one court date.
How We Defend Lake County DWLS and DWLR Cases
- We pull your driving record first. Many people are surprised by why they were suspended. The reason (unpaid ticket, failure to appear, too many moving violations, DUI) decides both the penalty range and what can be fixed. See driving record review.
- We check the State’s proof. Were you actually suspended or revoked on that date? Was the traffic stop lawful? Was the ticket charged at the right level?
- We work to clear the suspension before court when possible. Some suspensions (for example, for unpaid tickets or a failure to appear) can often be resolved while the case is open. Walking into court with a valid license is strong mitigation and can change how the case is resolved.
- We plan the license case alongside the court case. Revocations and DUI-related suspensions usually require a Secretary of State hearing. Under Secretary of State rules, you generally cannot have pending traffic tickets at an alcohol or drug related hearing unless the pending ticket is the only cause of your current loss of driving privileges, so the order of steps matters. We handle formal hearings, informal hearings, restricted driving permits (RDPs) and cases denied by the Secretary of State. Our reinstatement team can map out your path back to legal driving.
- We negotiate or try the case. Depending on your record, that may mean seeking a dismissal, a reduced charge, court supervision, or a sentence that avoids jail and protects your future license eligibility.
Why The Davis Law Group, P.C.
- Criminal defense and license reinstatement under one roof. Most DWLS and DWLR problems have two halves: the Lake County court case and the Secretary of State record. We handle both.
- Secretary of State insight. Our founder, Larry A. Davis, is a former attorney and hearing officer with the Illinois Secretary of State.
- Local presence. Our attorneys appear regularly at the Waukegan, Mundelein, Park City and Round Lake Beach branch courts.
- Clear fees. One flat legal fee covers your whole case. Out-of-pocket costs, such as court costs or Secretary of State fees, are paid separately.
- Free consultation, 24/7. Se habla español.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which lawyer should you choose for a driving on a suspended license case in Waukegan?
The best choice is a lawyer who handles both the Lake County court case and the Secretary of State side of your license, because the conviction itself can extend your suspension or revocation. The Davis Law Group, P.C. handles both, with a founder who is a former attorney and hearing officer with the Illinois Secretary of State. Call (224) 361-2800 for a free consultation.
Is driving on a suspended license a felony in Illinois?
Usually not; it is usually a Class A misdemeanor. It becomes a felony mainly when the suspension or revocation was for DUI, a summary suspension or leaving the scene of an injury crash and you have a prior DWLS/DWLR conviction, when you drove without a required ignition interlock, or when a repeat violation causes an injury crash.
Will I go to jail for driving on a suspended license in Lake County?
Jail is possible but not automatic for most first offenses. If your suspension or revocation was for DUI, a summary suspension or leaving the scene of an injury crash, the law requires at least 10 days in jail or 30 days of community service on conviction, and repeat cases carry longer minimums. Court supervision, which avoids a conviction, may be available in some first cases.
Which courthouse will my Lake County suspended license case be in?
Most misdemeanor cases go to the Mundelein, Park City or Round Lake Beach branch court, depending on which police department wrote the ticket. Felony cases go to the Lake County Courthouse at 18 N. County Street in Waukegan. Your ticket lists the court location.
Will a conviction make my suspension longer?
Yes. A conviction for driving while suspended extends the suspension by the same length as the original, and a conviction for driving while revoked delays any new license by at least one year from the conviction date.
Can I fix my suspension before my court date?
Often, yes, depending on why you were suspended. Suspensions for things like unpaid tickets or a missed court date can sometimes be cleared while the case is pending, and showing up with a valid license can help your case. DUI-related revocations require a Secretary of State hearing, and the timing has to be planned around your pending case.
Can I get a restricted driving permit (RDP) after a Lake County DWLS charge?
Possibly, but generally not while the charge is still pending. The Secretary of State requires no pending traffic tickets at those hearings unless the ticket is the only cause of your loss of driving privileges, so we usually resolve the court case first and then pursue an RDP or reinstatement.
Talk to a Lake County Suspended License Lawyer Today
A suspended or revoked license charge affects your record, your freedom and how soon you can drive legally again. Call The Davis Law Group, P.C. at (224) 361-2800, 24/7, or contact us online for a free consultation. We will review your driving record, explain where your case will be heard, and lay out a plan for both the court case and your license.
Contact Us
Fill out the contact form or call us at (847) 390-8500 to schedule your free consultation.
