Palos Heights, Palos Park Police Plan Extra Patrols For Drunk Drivers Over Thanksgiving

PALOS, IL — Palos Heights and Palos Park police will be adding extra patrols over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, from Nov. 21 through Dec. 2.

Expect to see a heightened police presence in Palos Park and other nearby communities over the holiday. Officers will be keeping a close eye on the roads and enforcing the law to keep motorists safe from impaired and distracted drivers. They’ll also be checking to see if people are wearing seat belts and children are properly restrained in car seats.

“Thanksgiving brings more vehicles, longer trips and more festivities,” said Sergeant Walter Droba, of the Palos Heights Police Department. “Seat belts remain one of the simplest and most effective ways to save your life in a crash. We’re asking every driver and passenger to buckle up, every trip, every time — and to make a plan for a sober ride before the celebrations begin. If you drink alcohol or use cannabis, don’t drive.”

Plan ahead with these tips:

• Before you go out, choose a sober driver or plan to use a taxi, public transit or a rideshare service (Uber, Lyft, etc.).
• If you host, offer alcohol‑free beverages and help guests arrange sober transportation.
• If you’ve used cannabis, do not drive. Effects can be delayed and impair reaction time and judgment.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, pull over safely and call 911.
• Make sure everyone in the vehicle wears a seat belt. It’s your best defense against an impaired driver.

This Thanksgiving enforcement effort is supported by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation and aligns with Illinois’ statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Click It or Ticket” and “It’s Not a Game” campaigns.