DUI Records in McLean County
McLean County DUI records are filed with the Circuit Clerk in Bloomington and cover all criminal DUI cases heard in the 11th Judicial Circuit. This is a large central Illinois county with two major cities, and both generate DUI case activity throughout the year. You can look up DUI cases in McLean County at the clerk's office, through the county's online search portal, or by using statewide systems run by Illinois State Police and the Secretary of State.
McLean County Quick Facts
McLean County Circuit Clerk Office
Donald R. Everhart, Jr. serves as the Circuit Clerk for McLean County. His office handles all case filings, court documents, and public records requests for DUI cases in the 11th Judicial Circuit. The office is in Room 404 at 104 West Front Street in Bloomington. This is the primary source for DUI case records in McLean County.
The McLean County Circuit Clerk office maintains case files for both misdemeanor and felony DUI cases. Staff can search by name, date of birth, or case number. Certified copies of conviction orders and case dispositions are available for a fee. The clerk's website includes access to the public case search portal, which covers recent cases going back several years. For older DUI records in McLean County, an in-person request is usually required.
| Circuit Clerk | Donald R. Everhart, Jr. |
|---|---|
| Address | 104 West Front Street, Room 404, Bloomington, IL 61701-5005 |
| Phone | 309-888-5301 |
| Fax | 309-888-5281 |
| Website | mcleancountyil.gov/circuit-clerk |
McLean County Sheriff and DUI Enforcement
The McLean County Sheriff's Office at mcleancountyil.gov/sheriff handles DUI enforcement throughout unincorporated McLean County and on county roads outside city limits. The sheriff's office works alongside Bloomington Police, Normal Police, and Illinois State Police on major corridors.
DUI arrests made by the McLean County Sheriff result in court cases filed at the Circuit Court in Bloomington, with all case documents held by the Circuit Clerk's office after filing.
The sheriff's office is at 104 W. Front St. in Bloomington and can be reached at 309-888-5060. DUI arrest records from the sheriff can be requested under Illinois FOIA law. Under 5 ILCS 140, the agency must produce arrest reports within 72 hours of a written request. Once the case is filed in court, the full case record moves to the Circuit Clerk. The sheriff may still hold separate internal records, but the public court file is the main resource for DUI case information in McLean County.
Illinois State Police also patrol major roads through McLean County, including I-55 and I-39. State police-initiated DUI cases in the county are filed at the McLean County courthouse in Bloomington.
DUI Law and Case Records in McLean County
Illinois defines DUI under 625 ILCS 5/11-501. Driving with a blood alcohol level at or above 0.08 is a criminal offense. So is driving while under the influence of any drug or a combination of substances that affects the ability to drive safely. A first DUI in McLean County is a Class A misdemeanor. The McLean County State's Attorney prosecutes all DUI cases through the 11th Judicial Circuit.
A second DUI offense in McLean County triggers mandatory minimum penalties under state law. The defendant must serve at least 5 days in jail or complete 240 hours of community service. These minimums cannot be waived by the judge. A third DUI is a Class 2 felony, which carries more serious consequences and a longer case history in the court files. A sixth or later DUI offense in Illinois is a Class X felony, the most serious non-murder classification in the state.
DUI records in McLean County are public court records. Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, DUI convictions cannot be expunged or sealed. They remain part of the permanent court record at the Circuit Clerk and also appear in the state criminal history system. Anyone who requests a criminal background check through the CHIRP system will see McLean County DUI convictions.
State Record Systems for McLean County DUI Cases
Illinois maintains several centralized systems that hold DUI records from McLean County. These are managed by the Illinois State Police and the Secretary of State.
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification is where all DUI conviction data from McLean County ends up after court disposition. You can check your own criminal history at no cost using the ISP My Record online system. This returns the full state criminal record tied to your identity, including any McLean County DUI convictions. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act, 20 ILCS 2635/1, only conviction records are shared publicly, not arrests where no conviction followed.
For driving records tied to McLean County DUI cases, the Illinois Secretary of State is the source. A DUI arrest triggers a Statutory Summary Suspension under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1. First offenders who fail the breath test face a 6-month suspension. First offenders who refuse face 12 months. Repeat DUI offenders face 12 or 36-month suspensions. Driving record abstracts can be ordered through the Secretary of State's abstract purchase page. These records show both the criminal charge history and the administrative license actions tied to a McLean County DUI.
Note: The 11th Judicial Circuit covers McLean County only, unlike some circuits that span multiple counties. This means all McLean County DUI case files are in one place at the Bloomington courthouse.
License Revocation After a McLean County DUI
A DUI conviction in McLean County leads to mandatory license revocation under 625 ILCS 5/6-205. This revocation is separate from and in addition to the Statutory Summary Suspension at arrest. Revocation has no set end date. The driver must petition the Secretary of State for reinstatement through a formal hearing. No license is automatically returned.
Reinstatement hearings are handled by the Secretary of State's office. Details are at ilsos.gov/departments/administrative-hearings.html. The hearing looks at the driver's complete DUI history, treatment progress, and current risk level. For McLean County residents with one DUI conviction, a formal hearing may not always be required for a first-time revocation. Repeat offenders always go through a formal hearing process. Many McLean County drivers are required to use a breath alcohol ignition interlock device as part of a Restricted Driving Permit granted during the revocation period.
Cities in McLean County
McLean County has two cities above the qualifying population threshold. Both Bloomington and Normal have their own police departments and generate DUI cases that are filed at the McLean County Circuit Court. DUI cases from all other communities in the county are also processed at the same courthouse.
Other communities in McLean County include Pontiac (in Livingston County), Le Roy, Lexington, and Hudson. DUI cases from all of these unincorporated and smaller communities go through the McLean County Circuit Court in Bloomington.
Nearby Counties
These counties border McLean County. DUI cases are filed in the county where the arrest happened. If you are not sure which county holds a particular case, check the citation or court notice for the county name.