What Happens When School Bus, City Bus, and Other Public Drivers Face DUI Charges?

 Posted on August 24, 2025 in DUI

DUI charges are always serious in Illinois, but when the driver operates a school bus, city bus, or other public transportation vehicle, prosecutors pursue cases aggressively and often seek to make examples out of the driver. Throughout Illinois, these cases draw community attention because they involve passengers who are often young children and who trust the driver to be impeccably safe in their behavior. The law recognizes this heightened responsibility by imposing stricter rules and harsher penalties on bus drivers accused of driving under the influence.

If you are a professional driver facing DUI charges, your career, reputation, and freedom are at risk. Fortunately, our Will County commercial DUI defense attorney is familiar with local courts and can provide defense strategies that account for the unique challenges of these cases.

How Does Illinois Define DUI for Bus Drivers?

As of August 2025, Illinois law continues to strictly regulate DUI for commercial drivers under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, with penalties that can be life-changing. Illinois applies tougher standards to drivers of commercial vehicles, including school buses. Under 625 ILCS 5/6-500 et seq., any driver with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is held to a lower blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit than non-commercial drivers.

• For regular drivers, the legal limit is 0.08 percent.

• For CDL holders operating a commercial vehicle, the limit is 0.04 percent.

• For school bus drivers, zero tolerance applies. Any trace of alcohol can result in charges.

This means that a bus driver who may not be legally intoxicated under general DUI law could still face arrest and prosecution for DUI while working.

What Are the Penalties for DUI as a Public Driver?

When a bus driver is charged with DUI in Illinois, the consequences extend beyond fines and jail time. They include:

• Automatic CDL disqualification: A first DUI conviction for a CDL driver results in at least a one-year loss of commercial driving privileges under 625 ILCS 5/6-514.

• Career-ending restrictions: For school bus drivers, even a first offense can be charged as an aggravated DUI and permanently bar them from transporting children.

• Criminal penalties: A DUI conviction can lead to jail time, probation, and steep fines, depending on whether it is a first offense or a subsequent violation.

• Tarnished reputation: In Will County communities such as Joliet, news of a bus driver charged with DUI often spreads quickly, impacting both career prospects and personal relationships.

What Defenses Are Available for Bus Drivers Facing DUI Charges?

Even in cases involving bus drivers, DUI charges are not automatically unbeatable. Defenses can sometimes involve challenging the traffic stop, questioning the accuracy of the breathalyzer, or fighting the results of a field sobriety test.

Other times, the best option is to negotiate with the prosecution for a plea deal that reduces the charges while still showing that the driver takes responsibility for their actions. Alternative sentencing may be an option through programs like community service and substance abuse counseling, depending on the circumstances and the client’s history.

Contact a Joliet, IL DUI Defense Attorney for City and Government Employees

If you are a bus driver or other commercial driver facing DUI charges, you need to take action immediately. Contact a Will County, IL bus driver DUI lawyer at Law Office of Eric J. Blatti, P.C. by calling 815-744-2500 now. Our attorney has strong local relationships with judges and other attorneys in Will County and offers free consultations to help you understand your options.