Illinois law requires all motor vehicles registered and operated in Illinois to be covered by liability insurance, which covers property damage and/or injuries you may cause others in an accident. If would appear that your friend was stopped for a traffic violation or involved in an accident and issued a traffic ticket and then convicted in court for operating an uninsured vehicle.

A person convicted of driving without insurance will get a minimum $500 fine for driving uninsured or a minimum $1,000 fine for driving a vehicle while the license plates are suspended for a previous insurance violation. The license plates of a first time offender are also suspended until a $100 reinstatement fee and current evidence of insurance are provided. Repeat offenders are required to serve a four-month suspension period, pay the $100 reinstatement fee and provide current evidence of insurance before being eligible for reinstatement.

Starting back in 2003 Illinois drivers cited three times by police for driving without proof of the mandated auto liability policy now can have their drivers' licenses revoked, while uninsured motorists involved in an accident that injures the other party will have their vehicles seized by authorities. Also police can seize the vehicles of those who drive without a license

Any person who receives court supervision for a mandatory insurance violation or who is convicted of a third or subsequent violation of driving without liability insurance is required to file proof of financial responsibility (SR22 certificate) for one year, or face a driver’s license suspension.

July 18, 2006 the Governor of Illinois signed Senate Bill 624 into the IL Law. This new law goes into effect July 1, 2007 and will increase penalties for those caught driving without car insurance. Senate Bill 624 suspends the licenses for drivers convicted of driving without car insurance and requires them to pay a $100 fine to reinstate their licenses.

SB 624 is an amendment to the already existing Illinois Vehicle Code and the Unified Code of Corrections, which penalizes motorists without insurance with a fine of $500 to $1000. Drivers convicted while on suspension for a similar violation will have their licenses suspended for an additional 6 months

Since the person was also driving without a valid license, then the suspension of a driver's license may not faze her. If a person has never been issued a driver's license or permit and is cited for this offense it is a class B misdemeanor and the car they are driving may be impounded.

If instead the person was found to be driving with a fictitious driver's license they can be found guilty of a Class 4 felony. A person convicted of a second or subsequent violation shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony. Or if she was found with a fraudulent driver's license instead she may be guilty of a Class 4 felony and shall be sentenced to a minimum fine of $500 or 50 hours of community service.

As you likely are aware, bills have come up in IL but have not been passed, to allow illegal immigrants to get a certificate to drive since they are unable to get a driver's license. Since the Vehicle Code of Illinois is updated or amended regularly so you can check with the Secretary of State to find out more about the penalties regarding driving without insurance and without a valid license.