The Chicago Police Department is ramping up its efforts to curb drunk driving this holiday season with a DUI Saturation Patrol in the city's 18th (Near North) District. The operation is set to unfold this weekend, starting Saturday, December 23, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. and will stretch until the early hours of Christmas Eve at 2:00 a.m. Officers are set to deploy in areas known for traffic violations, ready to identify and apprehend motorists driving under the influence, according to an announcement by the department.
The initiative is not just to merely catch offenders but also to act as a deterrent against driving after consuming alcohol. The saturation patrol's primary focus will be to spot drivers showing signs of impairment, but attention will also be given to enforcing speed, alcohol-related, and safety belt violations. Equipped with speed detection gear, officers aim to rapidly respond to and manage speeding infringements.
For those suspected of driving while intoxicated, the Chicago Police Department has an efficient system in place. A Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) Mobile Unit is likely to be on-site, designed to streamline the process of charging DUI suspects. This unit facilitates the issuance of Individual Recognizance Bonds (I-Bonds) at the location of the patrol, as outlined by the official Chicago Police Department statement. The mobile BAT unit allows officers to more quickly process offenders without the necessity of transporting every individual suspect to a lockup for bonding.
The use of the BAT Mobile Unit is significant, as it allows police to begin expeditiously processing a person with a DUI without the delay of transferring them to a local holding facility.
