Palos Heights And Palos Park Police Ramp Up Patrols Over Labor Day Weekend

PALOS, IL – Palos Heights and Palos Park police will join over 200 law enforcement agencies across Illinois participating in the statewide “Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get A DUI” and “Click It Or Ticket” campaigns this Labor Day, which falls on Monday, Sept. 1.

Expect to see heightened police patrols in Palos Park and Palos Heights, as well as other nearby communities, from now through the early morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Officers will be focused on stopping impaired driving, enforcement seat belt laws and reducing other dangerous driving behaviors.

“Driving under the influence — whether it’s alcohol, cannabis or any impairing drug — is not just risky, it’s illegal,” said Sergeant Walter Droba, of the Palos Heights Police Department “We’ll be patrolling with zero tolerance for impaired driving, because our goal is to protect the people of Palos Heights.”

In addition, officers from both municipalities will also be enforcing seat belt laws as part of the “Click It or Ticket” initiative. Buckling up is the most effective way to prevent serious injury or death in a crash. Everyone in the vehicle — front seat or back — should be properly buckled, every trip.

Officers will also be on the lookout for drivers impaired by cannabis and other drugs. Messages like “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High Get a DUI” are part of a statewide education and enforcement effort aimed at saving lives.

Palos Park police will also be zeroing in on aggressive driving behaviors, in addition to the aforementioned.

“Additional officers on patrol for Labor Day Weekend with the main goal to keep our family and friends safe, but we cannot do it alone,” said Chief Joe Miller, of the Palos Park Police Department. “We ask that everyone enjoy themselves responsibly and bring our fatal crash numbers down to zero.”

Do your part to ensure safety on roads:

• Don’t drive distracted
• Avoid tailgating
• Use turn signals
• Obey the speed limit
• Make sure everyone is buckled up
• Don’t drive impaired by drugs or alcohol

If you do see a possibly impaired driver, call 911 and give the vehicle’s description, location and direction of travel, and license plate, if possible.