Last year the Illinois State Police, in and around the Quad Cities area, arrested a record number of people for drunk driving. The year-to-date number of drunk driving arrests indicates that this year could rival last year's arrest numbers.
According to police arrest numbers, between 2005 and 2008, the number of driving under the influence (DUI) arrests numbered between 235 and 296. However, the 2009 numbers rose to 528. The 2010 numbers, through early July, had already reached 257 DUI arrests.
While these numbers indicate the number of drunk driving arrests in the Quad Cities area, it is not a stretch of the imagination to believe that numbers throughout the state of Illinois, including the Chicagoland area, are also on the rise.
Illinois State Police Captain Jeffrey Patterson indicates that he is unsure as to why the numbers have risen in the last two years - he points to an increased drunk driving awareness campaign.
However, Capt. Patterson does concede that the arrest numbers may indicated that there is an increased focus on drunk driving by police.
There may be a number of reasons for the increased number of DUI arrests:
- Increased focus on drunk driving enforcement by the police
- The mixture of prescription medication with little amounts of alcohol could cause a driver to become accidentally impaired
- The drunk driving blood alcohol level of 0.08 combined with increased enforcement may put those who do not believe they are impaired at increased risk of arrest
- New technology used by police to catch impaired drivers
If you or a loved one has been arrested on a suspected DUI charge, it is important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Before you plead guilty or talk to the police, consult with an attorney; there may be facts or circumstances that are available for your defense of the charge.
