Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign in Full Swing in Illinois

 Posted on October 05, 2015 in DUI/DWI

As fall arrives, Illinois law enforcement, through the partnership efforts of the Illinois Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, have been actively and aggressively implementing the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over traffic safety campaign, a campaign designed to improve awareness and crack down on drunk and drugged driving on Illinois roadways, according to one report. The central theme of the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is that drunk driving is preventable, and as such one of the main objectives of the campaign is to raise awareness of this fact.

During the time period between August 24th and Labor Day on September 7th, Illinois law enforcement was out in force, with more officers patrolling the roadways and exercising a zero tolerance policy when it comes to drunk or drugged drivers on the road. There was also an increase in the number of traffic safety checks and officers focused on issuing tickets for seat belt law violators without exception under the Click It or Ticket campaign.

Drunk Driving Is Illegal, and a Moment of Poor Judgement Can Be Trouble

Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, a person is considered too intoxicated to operate a motor vehicle if their blood alcohol concentration is 0.08 percent or higher. Yet many Illinois drivers still drink and drive. There are a number of reasons for this:

• Some people are normally prudent and safe drivers, but exercise momentary poor judgement during festivities;
• Some people do not normally drink, but have a few alcoholic beverages during a celebration with friends, and it is too much for them and it impairs their driving more than they expected; and/or
• Some people drive themselves to a party or barbecue, have a few drinks not realizing how intoxicated they are, and do not have a designated driver to take them home afterwards.

Many people who are pulled over and charged with a DUI are first-time offenders. They are normally great drivers, but have exercised poor judgment and got caught behind the wheel when they were too impaired to drive. Sometimes they were driving because they completely believed that they were sober enough to drive. Even if you are operating your vehicle in a safe and responsible way, if you get caught and your chemical test results show that you are over the legal limit, you will face DUI charges.

It is important to fight the DUI charges that are pending against you. A DUI conviction means that you will be facing time in court, jail time, hefty fines, loss of driver’s license, alcohol and drug educational classes, and a criminal record.

Call the Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley

With Illinois law enforcement so aggressively looking for drunk drivers, there will be an increase in the number of people who are charged with DUI. If you are facing DUI charges, please contact a skilled Rolling Meadows DUI attorney immediately. Call the Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley at 847-253-3100 for a consultation on your case.

Sources:

http://patch.com/illinois/naperville/naperville-police-ramping-efforts-nab-drunk-drivers-0

http://www.buckleupillinois.org/default.html

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K11-501