Joliet Police Cracking Down on Drunk Drivers for Holidays

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Police Department will participate in a national effort during this holiday season designed to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. Special enforcement efforts will include high visibility enforcement patrols, a roadside safety checkpoint, and seat belt enforcement zones.

Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with blood alcohol concentrations [BACs] of .08 or higher), according to the JPD. In 2014, there were 9,967 people killed in these preventable crashes. In fact, on average, over 10,000 people have died each year (2010 to 2014) in drunk-driving crashes, police said.

In 2014, approximately 1 in 5 children (ages 14 and younger) who were killed in traffic crashes were passengers in drunk-driving crashes. Fifty-six percent of the time it was the child’s own driver who was drunk.

The Joliet Police Department urges everyone to celebrate the holidays in a safe, responsible manner. Police Chief Brian Benton reminds all motorists, “Never drink and drive ... remember to buckle your seatbelt ... slow down ... and avoid distractions by not talking or texting while driving.”

Police will be deployed from Dec. 23, 2016, through Jan. 1, 2017, at various locations throughout the city. Assigned officers will enforce all applicable laws with an emphasis on impaired driving violations and seatbelt violations.

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