Politics & Government
Stay Safe on St. Patrick's Day
The Lake County Sheriff's Office offers some tips on staying safe this weekend.
Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran announced his office will be taking part in the statewide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over/Click It or Ticket crackdown by conducting special patrols during this St. Patrick’s Day period to curtail impaired drivers and late-night safety belt violators.
“Beginning this Friday and running through Sunday morning, our deputies will be out in wolf-pack patrols in different areas of the county,” said Sheriff Mark Curran. “Deputies will be aggressively attempting to identify intoxicated and impaired motorists.”
St. Patrick’s Day is a day for celebration; however, the Sheriff’s Office recommends designating a sober driver and not allowing any of your friends and loved ones to drive under the influence. These two simple steps may help avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for impaired driving. Other important tips include:
Find out what's happening in Lake Zurichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
If you are hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party:
- Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you serve is involved in an impaired driving crash;
- Make sure all of your guests designate a sober driver in advance or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers;
- Serve a lot of food and include a lot of non-alcoholic beverages at the party;
- Keep the phone numbers for local cab companies handy and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving impaired.
If you are attending a St. Patrick’s Day party:
Find out what's happening in Lake Zurichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
- 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, sober friend or family member to pick you up or just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober;
- Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while impaired;
- Always buckle up — it is still your best defense against an impaired driver.
"I encourage all who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day to have fun and celebrate responsibly," continued Sheriff Curran. "I urge anyone who spots an impaired or intoxicated driver to contact law enforcement immediately."
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.