The Chicago Police Department is rolling out DUI saturation patrols in the city. This weekend, the 12th (Near West) District will see an uptick in police activity focused on catching impaired drivers. According to an announcement on the Chicago Police Department's website, the operation will begin on Friday, January 26, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. and continue until Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 2:00 a.m.
These patrols are not just on the lookout for drunk driving; they're also targeting a range of traffic-related offenses, such as speeding, seat belt violations, and more. In a previous patrol held in the 5th (Calumet) District between January 19-20, police issued 39 citations in total, covering offenses from unsafe vehicle violations to speeding but notably recorded zero DUI arrests.
The following weekend, the action shifts to the 20th (Lincoln) District, where another DUI Saturation Patrol is scheduled for Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. until Sunday, January 28, 2024, at 2:00 a.m. The operation mirrors that of the 12th District, with the police presence aimed firmly at curbing impaired driving and other traffic violations.
The effectiveness of these patrols can be debated but the numbers show enforcement is present. The 19th (Town Hall) District DUI Saturation Patrol on January 20-21 didn’t lead to any arrests for DUI, as mentioned on their official release. However, they handed out 59 citations that weekend, with the majority for unsafe vehicle violations and insurance violations, and interestingly, distracted driving due to cellphone use was only pegged at two incidents.
