Police begin enforcement crackdown on impaired drivers

The Naperville Police Department today announced its late-night plans for July 4th traffic enforcement, focusing on both impaired drivers and safety belt violators. The intensified enforcement effort will focus mainly on late-night hours as statistics show a disproportionate number of traffic deaths occur late at night and involve a drinking driver and/or unbuckled motorist.

The Naperville Police Department will join the Illinois State Police and nearly 300 local police and sheriff's departments in a statewide enforcement effort that begins June 17 and runs through July 4th. Over $1 million in federal highway safety funds will be put towards this stepped-up effort to continue to keep Illinois roads safe during the July 4th holiday weekend.

“Nighttime is the most critical time for motor vehicle fatalities. Law enforcement is dedicated to the cause and will be stepping up our late-night enforcement efforts, making sure impaired drivers are off the road and motorists are buckled up,” said Traffic Sergeant Lee Martin.

Data shows during last year's July 4th weekend (6 p.m. on July 2, 2010 until midnight July 5, 2010), 10 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes in Illinois and seven of those fatalities involved a drinking driver. Additionally, 780 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes during the July 4th weekend last year.

The Naperville Police Department recommends two of many tips to avoid a potential crash or arrest involving impaired driving such as designating a sober driver and not letting friends or family members drive impaired. Other important tips include:

• Plan ahead. Designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;

• If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely;

• Promptly report impaired drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement by pulling over and dialing 911;

• Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears their safety belt. It is your best defense against an impaired driver.

The law enforcement crackdown is funded by federal traffic safety funds through IDOT's Division of Traffic Safety. The crackdown runs concurrently with a media campaign that reminds motorists, “You Drink & Drive. You Lose.” and “Click It or Ticket.”