Illinois Police To Add Extra DUI Patrols During St. Patrick’s Day Weekend

The Illinois State Patrol and local precincts will be adding extra DUI patrols over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend to crack down on drunk drivers.

Sgt. Al Trotsky said the added patrols will help keep dangerous drivers off the road. He cautioned residents to plan ahead to make sure they have a safe ride home this weekend.

“If you plan on drinking alcohol, designate a sober driver before the party begins. Designating a sober driver and not letting friends drive drunk are just two simple steps to help avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for drunk driving,” Trotsky said. “Be responsible or risk being arrested for DUI.”

The extra patrols will begin Friday and last into the wee hours of Tuesday morning, when some St. Patty’s Day partiers will make the ill-advised decision to drive home.

Brett Appelman comments

I always encourage people to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but Illinois drivers need to remember to celebrate safely and smartly, and that means no driving drunk. Laws against drunk driving and DUI enforcement measures continue to be increased each and every year. If you plan to attend a St. Patrick’s Day party then by all means designate a safe driver or arrange to take public transportation to your event.

Penalties for drunk driving can be severe, ranging from thousands of dollars in fines to the revocation of your license if convicted. Not all people realize that a revocation of your license is different than a suspension of your license. Revocation means as far as the state of Illinois is concerned, you are not allowed to drive at all ever again unless you are successful in a petition to have your license reinstated.

Tips for Staying Safe

Remember these tips for a happy and healthy holiday weekend:

• Don’t drink and drive.

• Designate a sober driver.

• Take a bus or taxi.

In the unfortunate event that you get pulled over for drinking and driving, remember:

• Always be polite and courteous to the officers.

• Never argue with the officers; There was almost certainly a valid reason for stopping you.

• Do not make any statements about how much and what you might have been drinking. Simply ask to speak with a lawyer.

• And most importantly, never agree to a breathalyzer test unless you know for a fact that you do not have any alcohol in your system. By doing so you are simply providing more evidence that can be used against you at a trial. You most certainly will be arrested for refusing a breathalyzer, but an arrest is not a conviction. And yes, refusing a breathalyzer test can result in a suspension of your license. It is much easier to defend a client on a DUI case when there is no breathalyzer than when there is clear proof the client may be over the legal limit.

Related source: Naperville Sun