Plainfield Police Arrest Six Impaired Drivers Over Holidays

PLAINFIELD, IL — Police in Plainfield say they arrested six impaired drivers during their annual "Click It or Ticket/Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" holiday campaign. The arrests took place between Dec. 17 and January 2.

The Plainfield Police Department worked alongside the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police and other local law enforcement agencies to make local roads safer over the holidays, the department said in a news release.

In addition to six DUI arrests, Plainfield police issued 31 seat belt citations, four child car seat citations and arrested two drivers for driving with suspended licenses. Nine drivers were issued tickets for driving without insurance, two were cited for speeding, seven were cited for texting or misusing phones while driving and 12 others were cited for non-specified violations.

"It should come as no surprise to any driver that drunk driving is illegal and punishable by arrest and significant fines," said Traffic Sergeant Eric Munson in a statement. "The actions of those who choose to drive impaired are selfish. Hopefully, these offenders now realize their actions have serious and potentially fatal consequences, and we hope they will never put themselves or others at risk by driving impaired again."

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 37,461 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2016. Of them, 10,497 — more than 28 percent — died in alcohol-related crashes.

Police say the end of the annual campaign is no excuse to stop buckling up, and that all occupants of a vehicle are required to be wearing properly-adjusted seat belts, no matter where in the car they are sitting.

"Officers are out year-round. If you or your passengers are caught not wearing a seat belt, you will be cited for the violation," police said. "If you drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will be arrested."

Officials said the holiday DUI campaign was made possible by federal highway safety grants administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

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