The Chicago Police Department is getting set for another weekend of DUI Saturation Patrols, this time in the 22nd (Morgan Park) District, as per an announcement on their official website. The operation is slated to commence at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, and will carry on until 2 a.m. the following Sunday.
With roving officers at the ready, the patrols are designed to not only zero in on signs of impaired driving but also to enforce laws pertaining to speeding, alcohol-related offenses, and seat belt infractions. Equipped with speed detection gear, police aim to catch those pushing the speed limits, as part of the initiative to reduce the number of impaired drivers on the road, as repored by the Chicago Police Department.
Reflecting on last week's Saturation Patrol conducted in the 14th (Shakespeare) District, the results, as listed on their website, were somewhat telling with a total of 36 citations. Among these were six instances of unsafe vehicle violations, four insurance violations, and four seat belt infringements, painting a sobering picture of the challenges the city continues to face regarding roadway safety and legal compliance by drivers.
No drivers were cited for DUIs in the previous crackdown, which might serve as a token of success for the deterrent effect of such patrols, or simply a quiet night in the 14th. That being said, other traffic-related violations were noted, including three speed violations and one for distracted driving involving a cellphone. Rounding out the report, a single citation was issued for suspended or revoked licenses, and a sizable tally of 17 for various other traffic violations, the CPD stated.
