Police Plan DUI Saturation Patrol In 19th District

CHICAGO, IL — The Chicago Police Department will be looking for drunken drivers in the 19th District this weekend. The DUI Saturation Patrol will start Saturday at 7 p.m., and end at 3 a.m. Sunday. The department does not release the locations of its patrols.

The 19th District includes the North Center, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Uptown, Roscoe Village, Lake View and Lincoln Park neighborhoods.

In addition to monitoring traffic for signs of impaired driving, officers will also be on the lookout for safety belt violations and speeding. Police cars will be equipped for speed detection to catch violators.

Police said the Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) Mobile Unit may also be out to speed up the process of charging people with driving under the influence. The 'BAT mobile,' as it's called, allows Individual Bonds to be issued at the site of the DUI Saturation Patrol. I-Bonds allow people to be released after they sign statements saying they agree to come to court.

The DUI Saturation Patrol conducted in the Jefferson Park (16th) District from Feb. 9 to Feb. 10 resulted in the following:

• Driving under the influence: 3
• Unsafe vehicle violations: 28
• Seat belt violations: 13
• Insurance violations: 15
• Driver's license violations: 8
• Traffic violations (other) 44
• Total citations: 111

Vehicles Towed: 4

Image by Amber Fisher