Kane plans 'No Refusal' DUI patrol on Black Wednesday
The Kane County state's attorney's office, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies across the county, will hold a "No Refusal" DUI patrol event Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving.
This will mark the third year in a row State's Attorney Joe McMahon's office has targeted what many call Black Wednesday and he says it's for good reason.
"The input we get from police departments and community groups like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and AAIM (Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists) is that the Wednesday before Thanksgiving's a night where we should do extra work," he said.
During a "No Refusal" event, prosecutors from Kane County fan out to area police departments, ready to prepare a search warrant in case a motorist under arrest for DUI refuses a breath test.
If an arrestee refuses, prosecutors contact an on-call judge for a warrant, then an on-call phlebotomist to obtain a blood draw.
If a person still refuses, felony obstruction of justice charges may be filed.
Numerous undisclosed law enforcement agencies in Kane will have extra patrols out that night as well.
McMahon's office has held "No Refusal" events around holidays such as Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, New Year's Eve and Super Bowl Sunday.
"If we do one again before the end of the year, we'll talk about it in December," McMahon said.