If your Illinois driver’s license has been suspended or revoked, you may qualify for limited driving privileges through an Illinois Restricted Driving Permit (RDP), sometimes called a hardship license.
An RDP can provide a way to legally drive for certain approved needs while your regular driving privileges remain suspended or revoked. Eligibility and requirements depend on your driving record and the reason you lost your license.
Johnson & Goldrich, P.C., helps drivers pursue Restricted Driving Permits and other forms of driving relief through the Illinois Secretary of State. We invite you to contact our law firm for legal counsel when seeking license reinstatement.
What Is a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) in Illinois?
A Restricted Driving Permit does not fully restore your driver’s license. Instead, it allows you to drive within specific restrictions established by the Secretary of State.
Depending on your circumstances, an RDP may permit driving for approved purposes such as work, school, medical care, treatment or support meetings, daycare, and certain family responsibilities. Your permit may restrict where, when, and why you are allowed to drive.
Obtaining a hardship license in Illinois generally requires going through the Secretary of State administrative hearing process and showing that you meet the requirements for driving relief.
Am I Eligible for a Restricted Driving Permit in IL?
You may qualify for an Illinois Restricted Driving Permit if your driver’s license is suspended or revoked and you meet the Secretary of State’s requirements for driving relief. Eligibility depends on why you lost your license, your driving history, and whether you are currently eligible for full reinstatement.
If you are not yet eligible for full license reinstatement, you may need to demonstrate that being unable to drive creates an undue hardship. This may include needing transportation for:
- Employment or work-related duties
- Medical care
- School or education
- Alcohol or drug treatment and support meetings
- Daycare or certain family responsibilities
For DUI-related suspensions or revocations, your number of prior DUI offenses and related driving incidents can also affect your eligibility and the type of Secretary of State hearing required.
Receiving an RDP is not automatic. You must meet the applicable requirements and demonstrate that granting you limited driving privileges would not endanger public safety.
Applying for an Illinois Hardship License
To obtain an RDP, you generally must go through an administrative hearing. Depending on your driving record and the reason you lost your license, your case may require either a formal or informal hearing.
Formal vs. Informal Hearings
An informal hearing may be available for certain drivers with one DUI incident or other less complex license issues. Drivers with two or more alcohol- or drug-related driving incidents generally must request a formal hearing.
At the hearing, you must demonstrate that you meet the requirements for an RDP. You must also show that granting you limited driving privileges would not endanger public safety. If hardship must be established, you will also need evidence showing why you need to drive.
Preparing for Your RDP Hearing
The documents required depend on your case. For an alcohol-related revocation, you may need to provide:
- An alcohol/drug evaluation
- Court documents related to a DUI conviction
- Proof of completed treatment or education
- Letters or other documentation related to your recovery
- Evidence supporting your need to drive
- Other documents required by the Secretary of State
Your testimony and supporting documents must be accurate and consistent. Problems with an evaluation, treatment documentation, hardship evidence, or testimony can affect whether your RDP is granted.
After the hearing, the Secretary of State reviews the evidence and determines whether you qualify for a Restricted Driving Permit. Johnson & Goldrich, P.C., helps clients prepare their documentation and testimony and represents them throughout the hearing process.
RDP Restrictions
RDPs are available for specific driving needs, such as those related to employment, family responsibilities, drug treatment, and other select circumstances.
If you receive an RDP, you can drive only during certain times and along specific routes. The purpose of driving must be to fulfill obligations that were the reason for the issuance of your hardship license. One example may be that you have a child in daycare or school whom you need to pick up every day at the same time.
A person younger than 16 years old cannot receive an RDP.
Do You Need a BAIID With a Restricted Driving Permit?
Some drivers who receive an RDP must also install a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) in their vehicle. Whether a BAIID is required depends on your driving history.
A BAIID may be required if you have:
- Multiple DUI convictions
- Two statutory summary suspensions from separate DUI arrests
- A DUI conviction and a statutory summary suspension from a separate DUI arrest
- Certain aggravated DUI convictions involving death, great bodily harm, permanent disability, or disfigurement
A BAIID requires you to provide a breath sample before starting the vehicle. If the BAIID detects alcohol above the permitted level, the vehicle will not start.
If your RDP requires a BAIID, you must follow the Secretary of State’s installation, monitoring, and compliance requirements to maintain your driving privileges.
What Happens After I Receive a Restricted Driving Permit?
Receiving an Illinois Restricted Driving Permit does not fully reinstate your driver’s license. You must follow all restrictions on the permit, including any limits on when, where, and why you may drive. If a BAIID is required, you must also comply with the Secretary of State’s BAIID requirements.
When you can pursue full driver’s license reinstatement depends on your eligibility date, driving history, and the terms of your RDP. If you were issued an RDP at a previous hearing, you generally must complete at least 75% of its term successfully before the Secretary of State will consider granting full reinstatement.
Some DUI histories carry longer revocation periods and may require extended use of restricted driving privileges and a BAIID before full reinstatement is considered. A second DUI conviction can result in a five-year revocation, while a fourth or subsequent DUI conviction can result in lifetime revocation.
Full reinstatement is not automatic. You must meet the Illinois Secretary of State’s requirements and, when required, complete another administrative hearing before unrestricted driving privileges can be restored.
Get Help With an Illinois Restricted Driving Permit
Johnson & Goldrich, P.C., helps Illinois drivers pursue restricted license permits through the Secretary of State. We have appeared at more than 10,000 hearings and have one of the best win records in Illinois.
Our driver’s license reinstatement lawyers can help you pursue an RDP and seek full reinstatement when eligible. Contact us today for a free consultation.
