State and local law enforcement beef up actions against impaired drivers

[May 10, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois State Police Capt. James W. Wolf, District 9 commander, announced May 1 that District 9 troopers will work with local law enforcement agencies to conduct Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement patrols in Sangamon County during the month of May. The program allows the Illinois State Police to target an area with saturation patrols that focus on preventing, detecting and taking enforcement action in response to violations associated with impaired driving and illegal transportation or consumption of alcohol and other drugs.

Across the country, an average of one traffic death occurs every 31 minutes, and someone is injured in an alcohol-related crash every two minutes. Alcohol and drug impairment remain significant factors in over 40 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. Each year in Illinois, hundreds of lives are lost in alcohol-related crashes. Don't risk losing your license, your car and your freedom. If you drive impaired, law enforcement will arrest you.

Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement patrols are part of the "You Drink & Drive. You Lose" campaign and, when applicable, are funded through a grant from the United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.

[Text from file received from Illinois State Police]