South Holland Police Takes Action in Statewide Safety Initiative

December 19, 2014 through January 4, 2015, the South Holland Police Department will be out in force as part of the annual Illinois “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign to crackdown on drunk drivers. The statewide initiative will include high-visibility enforcement of alcohol-impaired and seat belt laws, including in the village of South Holland.

During the holiday season as impaired driving fatalities tend to be higher, law enforcement agencies in Illinois step up patrol and issue public service announcements about the dangers of impaired driving. National and state paid advertising support the statewide campaign, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb drunk driving during the holiday season. “South Holland police officers will be aggressively looking for drunk drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving drunk,” said police chief Greg Baker. “In addition, front and back seat belt law violators will be ticketed.”

The South Holland Police Department advises that being arrested for driving drunk brings a wide range of negative consequences into one’s life. Drunk drivers face jail time, loss of their driver’s license and steep financial consequences, such as higher insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of employment.

The South Holland Police Department advises that driving while impaired or without a seat belt affects many lives, including the driver, their family and friends. The department offers the following safety tips to protect life and property this holiday season:

• If you expect to enjoy drinks while attending parties, plan ahead and designate a sober driver. Even one drink increases the risk of impairment while driving a motor vehicle.
• Use public transportation, taxi or sober family member or a friend to ensure safe arrival home.
• If you observe someone drinking, be the responsible one at the party; do not let this person get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 9-1-1. Your call could save a life.

The law enforcement crackdown is funded by federal traffic safety funds through the Illinois Department of Transportation. To learn more about the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, visit the website at http://www.drivesoberillinois.org.

Media contact: Officer Kirk Kremski, 708-331-3131, ext. 2, kkremski@southholland.org