Cops are beefing up patrols to prevent DUIs and crashes

BARTLETT -- Between the Bears playing the Packers, fireworks going off, and loads of champagne being consumed, local police are upping roadway patrols to combat drinking and driving.

"In general we have a beefed-up staff every New Year's in order to have extra patrols watching for which is unfortunately an all-too-common occurrence of drinking and driving," said Elgin police Sgt. Glenn Theriault. "We have extra officers working streets and highways. We will be focusing on intoxicated drivers."

The Elgin Police Department announced Thursday in a press release that it will be setting up roadside safety checks throughout the holiday weekend, which is a part of the Illinois Department of Highway Safety project that promotes traffic safety on highways.

But one officer said the patrols merely are preventing accidents from occurring.

"It's not just about the 'gotcha' mentality. It's really about ensuring safety of impaired drivers and anyone in that driver's pathway," said Susan Olafson, a spokeswoman for the city.

But Genoa police have added a little twist to their safety patrols.

"We have a Mercedes seized from a drug dealer, which we will be using to take intoxicated individuals home in," said Chief Patrick Solar. "However, if they choose not to ask us for a ride home, we'll be giving them a ride to jail. It's something (giving rides home to drunken people) we try to do every year -- we'd rather get them home safely than take them to jail."

With extra police guarding the roads from drunken tragedies, Theriault says he's unsure about whether or not the Bears game will complicate New Year's Eve.

"I don't know, it (an increase in drinking and driving) could go either way. People at the Bears game might not be drinking as much because it's a night game and it's cold outside. Plus, alcohol sales stop at halftime," said Theriault. "At the same time, the amount of drinking and celebrating on New Year's Eve is over the top, and with the Bears game it might mean more drinking. It's hard to tell what the ultimate outcome will be."

Regardless, Theriault left New Year's Eve partiers with some wise words.

"Be smart, be safe and don't drink and drive, and if you want a ride in a Mercedes go to Genoa," said Theriault.