The Evanston Police Department partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation and law enforcement throughout Illinois for the 2017 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Labor Day impaired driving enforcement campaign. From Aug. 21 through the early morning hours of Sept. 5, patrols were increased in an effort to keep impaired drivers off our roadways.    

The Evanston Police Department ramped up its enforcement efforts during the campaign.  The effort resulted in the following activity:

• 1 Driving While Under the Influence 
• 152 citations for failure to wear seat belt
• 1 citation for failure to secure child
• 86 citations for using cellular phone while driving
• 3 driving while license suspended 
• 1 driving with no valid license
• 16 citations for no proof of insurance
• 20 citations for speeding
• 23 other miscellaneous citations

“Alcohol- and drug-impaired driving has claimed too many lives, and the ‘Drive Sober’ campaign was a chance for us to help make zero fatalities a reality on Illinois roads,” said Sergeant Tracy Williams, Evanston Police Department Traffic Bureau Supervisor.  “People die every day at the hands of impaired drivers, and our law enforcement officers were out in full force, arresting drivers who were under the influence,” Williams said. 

“It is everyone’s responsibility to refrain from drinking and driving,” said Williams.  “Drinking and driving is a choice—one you should never make.” 

The 2017 Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown was funded by federal highway safety funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is managed through IDOT.