Palos Park PD Offers Rides Home To Black Wednesday Partiers

PALOS PARK, IL -- As motorists hit the road to visit with family and friends, state and local law enforcement will be out in force during the long Thanksgiving weekend. Palos Park police will be be highly visible looking for speeders and others violating traffic laws.

The night before Thanksgiving, also known Black Wednesday, falls on Nov. 21. It’s also considered one of the biggest party nights of the year.

“This ‘black’ is ominous -- blacking out from drinking too much alcohol,” Chief Joe Miller said. “For youth, particularly college students, Wednesday is a time to spend with friends before family get-togethers begin.”

If you’re in Palos Park on Black Wednesday and have had too much to drink and need a ride home, you can contact Palos Park police at 708-448-2191, or call Chief Miller’s cell directly 708-259-1035. The police will get partiers home safely, no questions asked. Police will only take you home, not to another bar or party.

During the long Thanksgiving weekend, Palos Park officers will be deployed to watch for speeding, and focus on high-risk behaviors like impaired driving, seatbelt violations and aggressive and distracted driving.

“We hope our efforts work to end senseless tragedies that in most cases could have been prevented,” Chief Miller said. “Palos Park’s frontline officers will be highly visible throughout the weekend and will have a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to drivers recklessly putting others’ lives at risk.”