Extra police patrols crack down on impaired driving

HUNTLEY, Il – The Huntley Police Department is waging an end-of-summer campaign to crack down on drunk and impaired driving to make roads safer and help save lives.

Paid for through federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation, the department began a high-visibility “drive sober or get pulled over” enforcement campaign, according to a news release. The increased partolling started Aug. 20 and runs through Sept. 8.

“While celebrations marking the last days of summer may look different this year than in times past, the potential remains for an increase in the number of impaired drivers on the roads,” Deputy Chief Michael Klunk said in the release. “Impaired driving kills more than 10,000 people in the United States each year. Please plan ahead for a safe ride home before you leave the house. It truly is a matter of life or death.”

The release said Huntley drivers can expect to see stepped-up impaired driving patrols and seatbelt enforcement, especially at night when arrests indicate seat-belt usage is at its lowest.
The department recommends people celebrating the holiday weekend should designate a sober driver to get everyone home safely.