CBS 2 Chicago wbbm7801059 670 The Score

Local

Cops To Be Out In Force To Catch Drunk Drivers On Labor Day Weekend

(Credit: Think Stock)

(Credit: Think Stock)

John Cody

Reporting John Cody

Don't Miss This
Don't Miss This

CHICAGO (CBS) – Illinois safety officials have a new Labor Day mantra, as they try to stem the state’s rising highway death toll.

Illinois Department of Transportation safety chief Patrick O’Brien said Wednesday the theme of this year’s Labor Day weekend crackdown on drunk driving is “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

O’Brien said there will be increased enforcement of drunk driving laws by police officers like Chicago Police Officer Shawn Eltner, who demonstrated making a DUI arrest.

Eltner conducted a field sobriety test on a make-believe drunk, who explained he’d only had three beers, but had serious troubles walking heel-to-toe in a straight line, or touching his finger to his nose.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody Reports


The officer said impaired drivers usually say they had “two beers,” when stopped for drunk driving.

He said one common tip-off that a driver is drunk is that his or her headlights are off at night.

Eltner said impaired drivers often leave clues to their situation right inside the car: “beer cans, wine bottles, cups with tequila, open cannabis in the console – it’s very common.”

O’Brien said he thinks warm weather has encouraged more driving this year, and thus boosted the year-to-date fatalities to 620 so far this year, compared to 571 at this point in 2011.

“It’s been one of those years where I think we had our first motorcycle fatality in January. It was a really warm winter. We have a lot more people out driving. You know, when the weather’s nice, people drive more,” he said.

O’Brien said Illinois State Police and 350 local law enforcement agencies will be out this weekend, conducting a combined 200 random roadblocks – commonly called roadside safety checks – as well as performing a combined 750 saturation patrols for drunk drivers, and those not wearing seat belts.

Listen Live!

RSS Most Popular News

Follow CBS Chicago

Like us on foursquare

RSS Contests & Promotions

  • Benjamin Moore Which Team Colors Matter Most? May 24, 2013
    Which Team Colors matter most to you? Either way, you could be a winner! Just sign up now for a chance to win $500 Depot Dollars to the Chicago Sports Depot to pick up some gear with your favorite team colors as they battle it out this week!
  • AVEENO® MEN’S “Building a Healthier Foundation” Sweepstakes May 21, 2013
    AVEENO® Men’s™ knows your family is your foundation. And to take good care of them, you need to take good care of yourself. Win a family day at the ballpark from AVEENO® Men’s™.
  • Join Hankook Tire To Reel In The Next Big Catch May 20, 2013
    Join Hankook tire to reel in the next great catch! Click here to go to www.TirePrize.com and enter for your chance to win the ultimate fishing excursion in Puerto Rico!
  • Meet Jim Rome On Set In Los Angeles May 20, 2013
    AutoZone and the Jim Rome Show are giving one winner and a guest a trip to meet Jim Rome in Los Angeles on the set of his Showtime television show! Enter for your chance to win!
WBBM Newsradio 780, Radio Stations & Broadcast Companies, Chicago, IL

Twitter Updates