Naperville tops suburbs in DUI arrests

Naperville ranks third among Illinois police departments in the number of DUI arrests for 2009, according to a survey by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists released Wednesday.

Naperville logged 581 arrests last year, followed by Carol Stream with 499, Aurora with 447 and Elgin with 422.

The Rockford Police Department finished first in the state with 743 arrests followed by second-place Decatur with 730.

Since 1990, AAIM has conducted the annual survey to recognize the state's most productive departments. However, Executive Director Charlene Chapman cautions that more arrests within certain municipalities does not necessarily translate to those cities having more drunk drivers than other cities.

Rather more arrests "does indicate a more active enforcement effort targeting DUI by those departments compared to other departments," Chapman said in a prepared statement.

The Cook County Sheriff's Department led all counties in the number of DUI arrests with 437, followed by Lake with 366 and DeKalb with 302. Will and McHenry counties round out the top five with 298 arrests and 288 arrests respectively.

Founded in 1982 by victims of drunken driving, AAIM works to educate the public on its dangers and serve as advocates for its victims.