CL Police Announce Driving Crackdown for Labor Day Holiday

As another holiday approaches, the Crystal Lake Police Department announces plans to conduct a safe-driving crackdown.

Police will hold a "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over/ Click It or Ticket" campaign during the Labor Day holiday, according to Police Cmdr. Dan Dziewior.

As during past crackdowns, Crystal Lake's intensified enforcement effort is part of a statewide safe-driving campaign.

The stepped-up enforcement begins Friday, Aug. 16, and runs through Monday, Sept. 2. Police will focus on the overnight hours from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics show that 52 percent of the 21,253 passengers killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash, Dziewior stated in a news release.

Deaths involving seat belt non-use are more prevalent during nighttime hours than day, Dziewior added. 

Police remind residents to plan ahead, designate a sober driver before going out for a night of drinking, and call a taxi if you drink too much. Motorists should also promptly report any suspected drunken drivers to police.

Lastly, drivers and passengers should remember to buckle- it's your best defense against a drunk driver, Dziewior said.