What is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers over 21 in Illinois?

In Illinois, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers over the age of 21 is set at 0.08%. This limit is established to ensure that drivers maintain a level of sobriety that allows them to operate a vehicle safely. A BAC of 0.08% indicates that there is a significant impairment in motor skills, judgment, and reaction times, which can increase the likelihood of accidents. Therefore, the state has determined this measurement as the threshold where a driver is considered legally impaired and can be charged with DUI (Driving Under the Influence).

The other values presented do not meet this legal threshold, reflecting lesser degrees of breath alcohol but not the level at which driving is considered unfit under the law. A BAC of 0.05% is used as a cautionary level and can lead to penalties, especially for inexperienced drivers and those under the legal drinking age, while higher levels like 0.10% and 0.12% are clearly over the legal limit and would subject drivers to stricter legal consequences.