The Chicago Police Department has announced a forthcoming DUI Saturation Patrol in the 6th (Gresham) District, scheduled for this weekend, and aimed at ensuring the safety of our community streets. This operation is part of a series of preventive measures being taken by the Police Department to keep impaired drivers off the road.
DUI Saturation Patrols are designed to saturate a pre-designated area with roving police officers who continuously monitor vehicular traffic for signs of impaired driving. These patrols place significant emphasis on speed, alcohol-related, and safety belt violations, with police vehicles equipped with speed detection tools to catch speeding violators swiftly. Also, in an effort to expedite the process of charging an individual with Driving under the Influence (DUI), the Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) Mobile Unit may be deployed to the site of the operation, enabling officers to issue Individual Recognizance Bonds (I-Bonds) right there on the scene.
However, considering the results of a recent DUI Saturation Patrol in the 1st (Central) District, the effectiveness of these patrols in terms of curbing DUI violations remains uncertain. Taking place on September 2-3, 2023, the patrol resulted in no DUI citations, but it did catch numerous traffic violations like Unsafe Vehicle Violations, Insurance Violations, Seat Belt Violations, Suspended/Revoked Licenses, and one case of Distracted Driving by Cellphone usage. In total, 20 citations were issued, and one vehicle was towed.
It's worth noting that the DUI Saturation Patrols do address crucial concerns related to speeding, adherence to safety belt regulations, and other traffic violations that often are ignored or downplayed.
