Motorists should celebrate safely this holiday period
May 22, 2012 2:48PM
Updated: July 2, 2012 9:07AM
Motorists should celebrate safely this holiday period
The East Dundee Police Department will take part in a traffic safety campaign May 17 through May 28 by conducting special patrols during the days preceding Memorial Day through the latter date to curtail impaired drivers and safety belt law violators.
Too often, our holiday periods can be a deadly and dangerous time on our roadways because of impaired driving. During that period, we will be working overtime with increased selective enforcement patrols to identify and take enforcement action for impaired driving and safety belt violations.
Alcohol dangerously impairs driving skills and judgment. Designating a sober driver and not letting friends drive impaired are just two simple steps to help avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for impaired driving. Proper use of safety belts can reduce the potential for injury and/or death.
There are some other important tips.
If you are hosting a Memorial Day weekend party:
You can be held liable if someone you serve is involved in an impaired-driving crash.
Make sure that 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.
If you are attending a Memorial Day weekend party:
Designate a sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys.
If you do not have a designated driver, call a cab, a sober friend or a family member to pick you up; or just stay where you are and don’t drive until you are sober.
Do your best to discourage a friend from driving while impaired. “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.”
Always buckle up in the car. It is still your best defense against an impaired driver.
The Memorial Day traffic safety campaign is made possible through federal traffic safety funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.
Terry A. Mee
Chief of police
East Dundee Police Department
Good job handling protests, Chicago police; it’s about time
I was at the 1968 Democratic National Convention and got caught up in the rioting.
I saw both sides acting poorly; but while a handful of protesters were the cause all the trouble, the overwhelming majority were there peacefully. Some were passing joints, others were sharing wine and cheese and other foods. Rival street gangs sat next to each other without confrontation.
When things started to get out of hand, all sense of professionalism went down the toilet by the Chicago Police Department when they blindly attacked the protesters, and it did not seem to make a difference if you were innocent or guilty.
The NATO protesters faced a different Chicago Police Department. Today’s Chicago Police Department is a complete 180 degrees from the 1968 police.
Today I saw a well-disciplined force that reacted in a highly professional manner, removing only those being abusive toward the police. They did not back down or blindly attack any protesters in their path.
The cowardly NATO protesters threw objects from a distance, acting tough and bad while several rows away from the front line. These protesters are worthy of the 1968 Chicago Police Department. Judging from the footage the mainstream media showed, I would venture to guess the majority were anti-war, anarchists or socialists. I am sure they were there to innocently be part of a media event.
It has been 44 years, and I can finally say nice things about the Chicago Police Department. And it is about time.
Manfred W. Czymmek
Elgin
