Police: Publicizing Road Checks Saves Lives

Publicity about increased police patrols and roadside safety checks over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday March 17 may have saved lives and prevented car accidents, according to the Crystal Lake Police Department. 

During the hours of 11 p.m. on March 17 to 3 a.m. on March 18, police held a roadside safety check event on Route 31 north of Route 176. These events, held several times throughout the year in various locations, are widely publicized to make motorists aware that they may be pulled over by officers checking compliance for a variety of safety issues from expired driver’s licenses to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, said Cdr. Dan Dziewior. 

“The knowledge that there’s going to be extra enforcement is why we announce it,” he said. “It’s not a secret. It is a deterrent for people.”

Dziewior said that 173 vehicles stopped during this month’s check produced one DUI arrest for Crystal Lake Police, and one or two for the Crystal Lake Park District Police and Prairie Grove Police which worked together with Crystal Lake at the same location. 

Crystal Lake Police also made five arrests for driving without a valid driver’s license and issued 17 citations for other infractions.

Prairie Grove Police Chief and Crystal Lake Park District Police Chief Ronald Lyons did not immediately return phone calls requesting comment for this story. 

While the number of citations and arrests are required by the Illinois Department of Transportation which provides funds to man the checkpoints, Dziewior said the fact that there were no serious DUI accidents during the time of the event makes the effort a success. 

“It’s not about how many tickets, the statistics, how many people were arrested–it’s how many people did not crash that night because there was extra enforcement out there and there was visibility of enforcement. That’s really the key,” he said. 

The checks are made as painless by police for motorists and follow the law as to how they are handled. During the St. Patrick’s Day check, officers explained the purpose to the five motorists selected at the checkpoint who are then asked to pull into the lanes set up for inspection while allowing the remainder of motorists to move on. Officers ask for driver’s licenses and proof of insurance. If there are no expirations and no obvious signs of driving under the influence or not wearing seat belts, etc., the drivers are allowed to leave and officers stop traffic for the next five cars until the shift is over. 

“It can take as little as 20 seconds in most cases,” Dziewior said. 

Dziewior said the department has been doing a variety of roadside safety checks for at least 23 years, maybe two to four times a year. Many are familiar with the highly publicized “Click It or Ticket” checks held around Labor Day that promote seatbelt use. 

Crystal Lake Police is also one of the McHenry police departments in four Illinois counties participating in the Drunkbusters program through the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists. The program pays $100 to tipsters whose calls to police lead to DUI arrests. 

AAIM is a non-profit citizen action group which endeavors to prevent deaths and injuries from intoxicated motorists through its programs and provide support for victims of drunk drivers in Illinois. 

And while there were no tips on St. Patrick’s Day, Dziewior said the department receives many tips from people reporting potential DUIs, the most recent one on March 12. 

AAIM Executive Director Charlene Chapman said Crystal Lake Police Department has consistently turned in the most tipster forms in McHenry County. 

McHenry County was the first county to get on board with Drunkbusters in 1994, which provides simple forms for participating police departments to fill out and submit to AAIM when tipsters call in. If a DUI arrest results from a tip, AAIM sends that individual a check for $100. Tipsters can make up to five reports to police each year. 

Once a call is received, police observe the driver for any erratic driving or traffic infractions before pulling a suspect over. If there is no reason to do so, the office will not stop a driver. However, if there is cause and a DUI arrest is made, police send one of the forms to AAIM with the tipster’s information. 

“Most people don’t even know about the program,” Chapman said. “This way the public can help and keep vigilant.” 

The program was started in 1990 with a $10,000 donation from an AAIM board member, Chapman said. When that money ran out, the organization approached state’s attorney’s offices in various counties requesting DUI offenders fund it through fines which an Illinois statute allows for anti-crime programs–such as AAIM. 

DuPage County signed on in 1994 followed by Lake County in 1995, Will County in 2002 and Kane County in 2008. 

To date AAIM has awarded 634 tipsters in McHenry County alone, which means 634 drivers were removed from the road for driving while intoxicated before harming themselves or others. 

“For us, that’s 634 dangerous drivers with potential to kill,” Chapman said. 

Drunkbusters has paid out more than $418,000 to tipsters funded through court fines paid by DUI offenders. The program has been recognized by the National Safety Council.