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Illinois Police Adding Extra DUI Patrols Through Thanksgiving Weekend
The Thanksgiving holiday stands out for many reasons, but it also holds a dubious distinction here in Illinois. It’s also one of the deadliest stretches on the roads.
Like George Clooney on the Andrea Gail, the Thanksgiving holiday is the perfect storm of factors that contribute to a spike in traffic accidents and fatalities. You’ve got:
- More drivers traveling on the roads.
- Worsening road conditions when winter weather sets in.
- Extended time off can lead more individuals to consume alcohol and make poor decisions behind the wheel.
Not only are more people on the road because of the holiday, the extra time with friends and family provides ample opportunity to consume alcohol. If you get behind the wheel in the wee hours of the morning to go Black Friday shopping after drinking with the family after Thanksgiving dinner, there’s a decent chance you’ll be over the limit.
Police Adding DUI Enforcement
Because of the added traffic on the roads, and because this is one of the busiest weekends of the year to catch drunk drivers, the Illinois State Police announced that they will be conducting extra DUI patrols across the state through the end of the weekend. Aside from an added presence along the highways, police also announced that there will be more roadside safety checks through December 2nd. Needless to say, now is not the time to get behind the wheel if you’ve had one too many.
Illinois State Police also mentioned that DUIs wouldn’t be the sole focus of the added enforcement. They’ll be on the lookout for speeders, unbuckled riders and any driver who is in violation of Illinois’ hands-free cell phone law.
“We will be out there increasing our patrols, working to make the roadways safer for those motorists who are obeying the law,” said Illinois State Trooper Mindy Carroll.
Even if you’re only traveling a couple of miles down the road, make sure you have a sober ride. Far too many people are arrested this time of year because they assume they won’t get caught, but police are looking harder than ever during the Thanksgiving weekend. Despite our warnings, the Thanksgiving holiday is always one of our busiest times of the year at Appelman Law. It’s one of the reasons why we staff our phones throughout the night to ensure we can provide you with assistance at any point this weekend, no matter when you call. Ideally you won’t need our help, but it’s nice to know that we’re there for you if something goes wrong.
So if you or someone you know ends up in trouble in DuPage County this weekend, have them pick up the phone and call us at (630) 717-7801. Whether you’ve been booked for DUI or face any other criminal charges, let us be the one to help get your life back on track. For more information, or to set up a free case review session, call Brett Appelman and his team today.
