The Lake County Sheriff’s Office conducted impaired driving enforcement from December 18 through January 2, reminding motorists to choose a ride if they choose to drink, as part of the nationwide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over traffic safety campaign. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office joined other state and local law enforcement agencies across Illinois to reduce highway fatalities by arresting impaired drivers and issuing citations to unbuckled motorists.
A total of 127 extra hours were targeted at traffic specific details. The following citations were issued, and arrests were made during the sixteen-day safety campaign:
- 66 seat belt citations
- 8 child car seat citations
- 2 DUI arrests
- 1 felony arrest
- 1 fugitive apprehended and arrested
- 6 citations for driving on a suspended/revoked drivers’ licenses
- 13 citations for driving uninsured
- 30 speeding citations
- 2 drug arrests
- 146 total citations
The annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over traffic safety campaign may be over in Lake County, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to drink and drive. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 37,461 people died in motor vehicle crashes during 2016. Twenty-eight percent (10,497) died in crashes involving at least one driver with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above the .08 limit.
“DUIs are expensive, and more importantly, can lead to tragic fatalities. I urge you to think before you drink and plan your ride home. The traffic safety campaign may be over, but our deputies are out year-round,” stated Sheriff Mark Curran.
The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over traffic safety campaign was made possible with federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.