The Chicago Police Department is gearing up for another weekend DUI Saturation Patrol, this time in the 24th (Rogers Park) District. Starting at 6 p.m. this Friday, January 16th, and continuing until early Saturday morning at 2 a.m., officers will be intensively monitoring traffic for any signs of impaired driving. The focus will not only be on the lookout for those driving under the influence but also enforces laws related to speed, alcohol, seat belts, and other vehicular safety regulations. The Chicago Police Department has announced that specialized vehicles equipped for speed detection will be deployed to catch speed violators.
The patrol is one piece of a city-wide effort to curb DUIs. Along with catching those driving over the speed limit, the Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) Mobile Unit will likely be on scene. Set to expedite DUI charges, the BAT makes it possible to issue Individual Recognizance Bonds (I-Bonds) right on the spot, reducing the need to transport individuals to a lockup facility immediately.
Reflective of the serious stance on road safety, a previous DUI Saturation Patrol conducted in the 14th (Shakespeare) District on January 9th and 10th netted a total of 77 citations, according to official statistics. While no arrests for DUI were made, there were numerous other violations, including 23 instances of unsafe vehicle conditions, 5 insurance violations, and 4 seat belt violations, among others.
