Publications & Sites 
Skokie police step up holiday road enforcement
Updated: September 24, 2012 6:16AM
SKOKIE — The Skokie Police Department is not waiting for Labor Day to step up enforcement on impaired driving and seat belt violations.
The late-night enforcement crackdown, called “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over/Click It or Ticket,” begins a couple of weekends before the holiday and is scheduled through Labor Day.
Skokie Police say the effort is in response to “the disproportionate number of traffic deaths” involving alcohol and “unbelted” motorists.
According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the midnight to 3 a.m. time window is the deadliest on Illinois roadways, police said. The state data also indicates incidents during this window involve the highest percentage of alcohol and the lowest seat belt use.
“The numbers do not lie,” said Skokie Police Sgt. David Pawlak. “We will be stepping up our late-night enforcement efforts, making sure impaired drivers are off the road and motorists are buckled up.”
Several DUI roadside safety checkpoints along with several saturation patrols will occur in the early morning hours during the pre-holiday and holiday weekends.
Checkpoints are scheduled for:
• 11:15 p.m. – 3:15 a.m. Friday and Saturday at 8700 Skokie Blvd.
• 11:15 p.m. – 3:15 a.m., Saturday and Sunday at 8700 McCormick Blvd.
• 11:15 p.m. – 3:15 a.m. Aug. 24 and 25 at 5005 Dempster St.
• 11:15 p.m. - 3:15 a.m. Sept. 2 and 3 at 5200 Touhy Ave.
The Skokie Police Department urges designating a sober driver and not letting friends
and family drive impaired as just two of several simple steps to avoid a tragedy or an
arrest for impaired driving.
They also suggest planning ahead by designating a sober driver before going out, and giving that person keys ahead of time; calling a taxi or using mass transit if impaired or calling a sober friend or family member to get home safely; promptly reporting impaired drivers seen on the roadways to law enforcement; and wearing a seat belt as well as making sure all passengers are buckled up.
