People with a DUI offense can lose more than their license.

If caught driving intoxicated, the state of Illinois can confiscate an offender’s vehicle.

The statewide law, which went into effect July 1, allows police to take away vehicles driven by people who have suspended licenses for DUI, reckless homicide or leaving the scene of a personal injury.

So far this year, there have been 160 cases of people driving with a suspended or revoked license seen in the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Twenty-three of those were felonies, DeKalb County Lt. Van Bomar said. There have been 130 cases of DUI.

Driving with a suspended or revoked license is a Class A felony, Bomar said. That could earn up to one year in jail.

According to DeKalb police records, there have been 154 arrests for driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Previously, police could take a vehicle away only after four offenses.

Anyone found guilty of such offenses may be subject to having the car impounded, whether the person owns the vehicle they were driving or not.

If the person with a suspended license borrowed a car from a friend who knew the driver’s license was suspended or revoked, that friend also can have the car impounded by the state. But if those people use rental cars to drive, they won’t be taken away from the company, DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott said.

“There are some loopholes in it,” Scott said.

After the car is confiscated, it will be sold if the person is found guilty.

The new law can be effective, DeKalb police Lt. Jim Kayes said.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he said. “It’s obvious that these people are thumbing their noses in the law by driving. If we hook their car, it’s a real incentive.”

The state will see some real results from the law, Bomar said.

“It’s another tool to keep these people who don’t have their license off the road,” Bomar added.

So far, no one in the city or county has had his or her car taken away because of the new law.

“Once everyone is up on it, I think there will be more results,” Kayes said.