Illinois Conducting DUI Crackdown Through New Year

 Posted on December 27, 2019 in DUI

Illinois State Police, the Illinois Department of Transportation and more than 200 local police and sheriff’s departments will be conducting extra DUI enforcement to help keep people safe through the holidays. The extra enforcement is part of the annual holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign to help keep our roads safer.

“The holidays should be a time for celebrating and making memories, not tragedy and loss,” said Cynthia Watters, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and Engineering. “With all the festivities, it is essential to plan for a sober ride home before the celebration begins. To help save lives, law enforcement will be cracking down on those who choose to drive impaired.”

The extra campaign is currently underway and will run until the early-morning hours of January 2.

Extra DUI Enforcement

Although crash fatalities are down in 2019 compared to 2018, crashes tend to spike between Christmas and New Year’s Day as people have more time off and may choose to ring in the end of the year with alcohol. Police will have added enforcement on the road to look for inebriated drivers, but they will also be looking for other driving infractions that contribute to traffic fatalities. The four driving maneuvers they’ll be looking for the most are:

• Drunk Driving
• Distracted Driving
• Speeding
• Failure To Wear A Seat Belt

Distracted driving has spiked in recent months now that Illinois requires motorists to be hands-free from phones or other electronics when they are behind the wheel. Even lifting a phone up and holding it to your ear is enough to warrant a traffic stop and a citation, so if you’re wondering what to spend those holiday gift cards on, consider investing in a bluetooth headset or similar hands-free device.

And if you’re going to ring in the new year with some spirits, make sure that you plan ahead and know how you’re getting home without having to get behind the wheel. New Year’s Eve and the early morning hours of New Year’s Day are some of the deadliest hours on the road, and you can bet that police know this and will be out in full force. Don’t think that you’ll be the exception who gets home safe. One mistake can ruin your life and the lives of others, so don’t drink and drive.

If you end up in trouble during the crackdown, contact the experienced lawyers at Appelman Law for help with your criminal case. We answer our phones all through the night this time of year, so no matter when you get in trouble, we can help. Give us a call today at (630) 717-7801. We’ll leave you with this holiday message from Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, who sought to sum up the current DUI crackdown.

“We see you when you’re drinking. We know when you’re unsafe, so designate a sober driver and be good for goodness sake!”