Naperville Booze Crews try to curb DUIs
A new business venture in Naperville is aimed at helping people get home safely if they've been drinking.
Booze Crews will take customers home in their own cars to eliminate drunken driving concerns as well as the need to pick up one's car the next day.
"Our mission is saving lives one car at a time," said President Kevin Oliver of Naperville.
The service began operating in July but is still working out permitting issues with the city.
Oliver and business partner Bob Jopp started the company. Oliver lost a friend who was killed by a drunken driver and he hopes to lower the number of crashes caused by alcohol.
"This is a way to honor his memory by doing something positive for the community," Oliver said.
The company offers rides from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Sunday and also accepts appointments both during and outside regular hours. It charges $25 plus $2 per mile.
The service operates by using a motorized scooter that it is able to fold up and be put in the trunk of a customer's car. A driver from Booze Crews takes customers in their own car to their destination, then uses the scooter to get to the next customer.
In the winter or inclement weather, Booze Crews will ditch the scooter and instead have an additional employee in a car following the designated driver.
Oliver estimates he has been averaging about three or four rides a night. He is currently the only driver but said any new drivers he hires will undergo checks of their criminal and driving records as well as their credit.
The company started operating this summer, which in and of itself does not violate any city ordinances, according to City Manager Doug Krieger. However, there is a fine line because soliciting customers to use the service requires a permit that the company currently does not hold.
Booze Crews will need to obtain a permit and also the city council for permission to solicit outside the hours solicitation is typically allowed, according to Krieger.
The matter was before council Tuesday but the company's attorney Kathy West asked the council to table the issue for a future meeting and councilmen agreed.
In the meantime, Krieger said there has been "no black and white violations" so the business has not received any fines and is still allowed to operate if it can do so without violating ordinances by soliciting business.
More information about Booze Crews is available at boozecrews.biz or by calling (630) 281-0434.