Palos Heights Police Put Holiday Boozers On Notice

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL -- Palos Heights police are joining law enforcement agencies in nearby communities and across the state in putting holiday boozers on notice. Starting Dec. 18 through the early morning hours of Jan 2, 2018, the Palos Heights Police Department will be paying added attention to roads for signs of drivers impaired by drugs and alcohol. The special focus marks the last year-end Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement.

“Now through New Year’s Day, motorists will notice increased enforcement watching closely for anyone who is driving impaired,” said Deputy Chief William Czajkowski of the Palos Heights Police Department. “It is vital that we keep our travelers safe, not just at the holidays, but every day. That’s why we’ll arrest anyone who chooses to drive impaired by alcohol or drugs.”

Czajkowski said officers will be looking for and ticketing individuals who aren’t buckled up, no matter where they are sitting in a vehicle. Last year, 37,461 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the United States. Of those killed, 28 percent (10,497) died in crashes in which a driver had a blood-alcohol concentration over the Illinois legal limit of .08.

“We are committed to doing whatever it takes to help save lives by keeping impaired drivers off the road,” Czajkowski said.

Impaired driving offenders often serve jail time, lose their driver’s license, are charged higher insurance rates and pay unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing, repairs and lost wages. The ultimate cost of impaired driving is causing a traffic crash that injures or kills. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement effort is made possible by federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

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