4 arrests in Kane 'No Refusal' DUI patrol
Authorities made four DUI arrests during Kane County's latest "No Refusal" event held on March 17, which was below the average number for the anti-DUI effort.
"Four is a low number. I think that's a positive sign," said State's Attorney Joe McMahon, who emphasized his goal is to change people's behavior to find alternative transportation home. "My goal every time we have one of these is to have zero."
Those arrests were below the average for previous DUI patrols. Overall, 20 have been held in Kane resulting in 135 total DUI arrests, an average nearing seven. Kane authorities have held six "No Refusal" events on or near St. Patrick's Day, resulting in 44 total DUI arrests.
In the latest patrol, among the four people charged with DUI charges, two refused to take a breath or chemical test, McMahon said.
In a "No Refusal" event, prosecutors work with police to prepare a search warrant to present to an on-call judge. The warrant allows a phlebotomist to take a blood sample from an arrestee, who can be charged with felony obstruction of justice of that person continues to refuse after the warrant is issued. The warrant can be issued in about an hour, which gives the arrestee less time to sober up.
McMahon said authorities obtained search warrants for both arrestees; one consented to a chemical test but the second continued to refuse and was charged with felony obstruction.
McMahon said authorities have not yet decided on the next No Refusal patrol, but on the past they have been held on Independence Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. Overall, 17 agencies participated last month, McMahon said.