Residents of Chicago's 14th (Shakespeare) District should be prepared for an increase in police presence this weekend, as the Chicago Police Department will be deploying a DUI Saturation Patrol from Friday evening through early Saturday morning. According to an announcement, the operation will commence at 6 p.m. on May 24, 2024, and will run until 2 a.m. the following day, with a focus on identifying and apprehending drivers under the influence and promoting overall traffic safety.
The initiative aims to flood the designated area with an augmented force of officers on the lookout for signs of impaired driving, but it's not just drunk drivers they're after, they're looking for speed demons and individuals flouting seatbelt laws too. Alongside, units equipped with speed detection devices will be strategically placed to catch speeding offenders, the department's purpose with this patrol is multifaceted targeting a gamut of violations, as mentioned in a statement.
To expedite the processing of DUI charges, the Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) Mobile Unit is also set to make an appearance during the saturation patrol, potentially allowing for immediate issuance of Individual Recognizance Bonds (I-Bonds) on-site. This measure could help streamline the charge and bond process for those suspected of driving under the influence, as detailed by the Chicago Police Department's official report.
Looking at a similar DUI Saturation Patrol conducted in the 3rd (Grand Crossing) District on May 17-18, there were a total of 20 citations handed out, though none for DUI, with violations ranging from unsafe vehicle conditions to issues related to insurance and driving licenses, yet strangely, not a single speed or distracted driving infringement was recorded, this according to the patrol report. Whether this upcoming patrol in the Shakespeare district will yield similar numbers, remains to be seen. For full details on the previous patrol's outcomes, citizens can head to the police department's website.
