A press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department:

The Crystal Lake Police Department Urges Motorists To Safely Celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day

The Crystal Lake Police Department announced today they will be conducting special patrols this St. Patrick’s Day to crack down on drunk drivers. Unbuckled motorists also will be ticketed.

A Crystal Lake Police stop on Route 14.

The intensified enforcement effort against drunk drivers and seat belt law violators underscores the disproportionate number of traffic deaths caused by alcohol consumption and failure to buckle up.

The stepped-up enforcement will begin March 13th

Department recommends designating a sober driver and not letting friends and family drive drunk as just two of several simple steps to avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for drunk driving.

Other important tips include:

If you are hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party:

• Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you serve is involved in a drunk driving crash;
• Make sure all of your guests designate a sober driver in advance or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers;
• Serve lots of food and include lots of non-alcoholic beverages at the party;
• Keep the phone numbers for local cab companies handy and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving drunk.

If you are attending a St. Patrick’s Day party:

• Designate a sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys;
• If you do not have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home, call a cab, sober friend or family member to pick you up or just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober;
• Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while drunk;
• Always buckle up – it is still your best defense against a drunk driver.

Crystal Lake Police also encourage the public to dial 911 to report suspected drunk or otherwise impaired or dangerous drivers. To encourage drivers to call, the Crystal Lake Police Department continues to partner with the Alliance against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) in promoting their “Drunkbusters” program. AAIM gives $100 to tipsters whose calls lead to DUI arrests.

For more information on the “Drunkbusters” program, including tips on how to recognize a possibly intoxicated driver, visit the AAIM website at www.aaim1.org or call the Crystal Lake Police Department at 815-356-3620.

The law enforcement crackdown runs concurrently with a media campaign that reminds motorists to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket,” and is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation with funds made available via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.