Illinois lawmakers are currently considering a significant change to DUI laws that could impact thousands of drivers across the state.
As of January 2026, Illinois House Bill 4333 proposes amending the Illinois Vehicle Code to lower the presumptive alcohol concentration for driving under the influence (DUI) to 0.05, down from the current legal limit of 0.08.


If passed, this proposal would represent one of the most substantial shifts in Illinois DUI law in decades and could dramatically change how DUI cases are investigated, charged, and defended.
What House Bill 4333 Would Change
Under current Illinois law, a driver is presumed to be under the influence when their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 or higher. House Bill 4333 proposes lowering that presumptive level to a BAC of 0.05.
The proposal would not only affect the criminal statutes governing DUI but would also affect the Illinois Summary Suspension and Summary Revocation laws governing those who submit to and fail chemical testing by also lowering the BAC to 0.05 and the consequent loss of driving privileges.
According to the Illinois General Assembly, the proposed amendment would apply broadly across multiple types of vehicles, including:
• Motor vehicles
• Snowmobiles
• Boats and other watercraft
This means that both motor vehicle drivers and recreational operators could be subject to stricter DUI enforcement standards if the law is enacted.
Understanding “Presumptive Alcohol Concentration”
It is important to understand that the DUI law does not rely solely on visible impairment. The “presumptive” BAC level creates a legal threshold where prosecutors may rely heavily on chemical testing results rather than subjective observations of a driver’s behavior.
Lowering the presumptive limit to 0.05 would likely:
• Increase the number of drivers facing DUI charges
• Increase the number of statutory summary suspensions
• Increase litigation due to borderline BAC levels
Why Lawmakers Are Considering a Lower BAC Limit
Supporters of the bill argue that impairment begins well below 0.08. They claim that research indicates that reaction time, decision making, and coordination can be affected even at relatively lower levels of alcohol consumption.
Proponents believe lowering the limit could:
• Reduce alcohol related crashes and fatalities
• Encourage safer driving behaviors
• Align Illinois with stricter international standards, where 0.05 limits are more common
Utah is the only state in the country that has actually adopted a 0.05 BAC limit, but similar proposals have been discussed in other states.
Potential Benefits of a 0.05 BAC Limit
- Increased Deterrence
A lower legal limit may discourage drivers from consuming alcohol before driving, potentially reducing risk taking behaviors.
- Earlier Intervention
Law enforcement could intervene earlier when alcohol impairment may begin, possibly preventing more serious accidents.
- Public Safety Messaging
Advocates argue that a stricter threshold sends a clearer message that driving after drinking carries significant legal risk.
Concerns and Criticisms of the Proposal
Despite safety arguments, critics raise several important and valid concerns:
- Impact on Social Drinkers
Many drivers who currently believe they are within legal limits could unknowingly exceed a 0.05 BAC threshold. Depending on body weight, metabolism, and other factors, even one or two drinks may approach this level. A 165 lb man can realistically hit .05 after just 2 normal drinks in about an hour, especially without food. A 200 lb man will reach .05 after 3 drinks in an hour. A 120 lb woman may approach or exceed .05 after roughly just 1.5 drinks.
- Increased DUI Arrests and Court Volume
Lowering the threshold would likely increase DUI arrests and prosecutions, which could impact court resources and raise concerns about overcriminalization.
- Scientific and Legal Challenges
BAC does not always correlate perfectly with actual impairment. DUI defense attorneys anticipate more cases involving marginal test results and challenges related to testing accuracy and reliability.
- Economic Impact
Some industry groups argue that stricter limits could negatively affect restaurants, bars, and hospitality businesses.
Current Status of the Proposed Law
As of now, House Bill 4333 remains under legislative consideration by the Illinois General Assembly. Proposed legislation often undergoes revisions, committee hearings, and public debate before any final vote.
The legal BAC limit in Illinois remains 0.08 unless and until lawmakers formally adopt a change.
Illinois may lower the limit for DUI’s from .08 to .05.
[Q: Do you agree that lowering the limit would be good for Illinois?]
Illinois house bill 4333 would make Illinois one of the strictest states when it comes to driving under the influence.
The bill intriduced by Rep. Daniel Didech (D) would update the Illinois Vehicle Code by replacing every “0.08” reference with “0.05,” effectively creating a single standard for nearly all motor-vehicle offenses.

















Jelly Roll Wins His First-Ever Grammys and Urges Deeper Relationship With Jesus
Jelly Roll Wins His First-Ever Grammys and Urges Deeper Relationship With Jesus
Unlike many of his fellow artists at the 68th annual Grammys, Jelly Roll refused to weigh in on the political climate in America during the 2026 awards show.The hip-hop-country hyphenate grew passionate about God from the Crypto.com stage.
Jelly Roll has never been one to shy away from his faith in public settings, and he leaned into it at the Grammys Sunday as he took his first Recording Academy prizes.
“First of all, Jesus, I hear you and I’m listening, Lord, I am listening, Lord,” he began his fiery acceptance speech after winning the new award of best contemporary country album for his 2024 record Beautifully Broken. “I’d have killed myself if it wasn’t for you and Jesus” he said after thanking his wife.
Beautifully Broken is Jelly’s 2024 collab-heavy redemption-journey record that hit No. 1, and he drew on its themes as he continued his speech.
“There was a time in my life, y’all, when I was broken. That’s why I wrote this album. I didn’t think I had a chance y’all,” he said, in a preacherly cadence. “I was a horrible human.” But then, he noted, he found a Bible and music while in a jail cell and “I believed that music had the power to change my life and God had the power to change my life.”
He finished his speech with gusto. “I want to tell y’all right now,” he said, growing even more passionate as Reba McEntire looked on gleefully from the audience. “Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by any one political party. Jesus is Jesus. Anybody can have a relationship with him. I love you Lord.”
With their heavily produced performances, the Grammys can lack spontaneity and intimacy, but Jelly’s speech provided a refreshing counterbalance as he bared his soul and asked the audience to do the same.
Jelly Roll, the moniker of Jason Bradley DeFord, is a prolific genre-defying singer-songwriter who came to prominence in the early 2020’s with the alt-rock addiction lament “Dead Man Walking” and “Son of a Sinner,” a country power ballad about navigating one’s flawed humanity. After previously spending time in jail for aggravated robbery and other crimes, he has spoken openly about those mistakes and music and religion as paths out of dark places.
Jelly had reason to be joyous Sunday: he won all three Grammys he was nominated for after striking out on his four previous noms. He also took best country duo/group performance for his hopeful singalong “Amen” with Shaboozey and best contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for his worshipful blues-rock duet “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Brandon Lake.
Despite the sly reference to party affiliation in his speech, Jelly deflected a political question in the pressroom shortly after, saying, “People shouldn’t care to hear my opinion. I’m a dumb redneck” and “I hate to be the artist that sounds aloof, but I just feel so disconnected from what’s happening.” But then he almost directly contradicted that thought when he said a second later, “I have a lot to say about it, and I’m going to in the next week, and everybody’s going to hear exactly what I have to say about it the most loud and clear way I’ve ever spoken in my life.”
The musician is, to be sure, often eager to speak about his faith at live performances and award shows. “The world is hearing about Jesus like they haven’t in decades right now,” he said from the stage of the Christian-themed Dove Awards last year, in a similarly rousing speech, as he cited Matthew ministering to the needy and encouraged the audience to do the same. “They’ve heard of Jesus. Now show them Jesus,” he intoned.
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