As Illinoisans gear up to mark the end of summer with Labor Day celebrations throughout the state, the Palatine Police Department announced its plans for a traffic safety campaign focusing on drunk, unbuckled and distracted drivers.

“Our goal is to help ensure that our community’s residents and visitors make it home safely after the party ends,” said the Palatine Police. “We’ll be out in force to keep impaired drivers off the roads. If you’ll be celebrating, we urge you to plan ahead for a sober ride. It could be a matter of life or death.”

The Palatine Police Department is collaborating with law enforcement agencies across Illinois for the increased statewide effort.  Extra uniformed police officers will conduct saturation patrols dedicated to identifying and arresting impaired drivers, as well as strictly enforcing speeding, seat belt, and distracted driving laws. The high-visibility crackdown will run from Aug. 20 through the holiday weekend into the early morning hours of Sept. 8.

Additionally, the Palatine Police Department will conduct a Roadside Safety Check from the late evening hours on Friday, August 28 through the early morning hours on Saturday August 29, in the area of Algonquin and Roselle Roads.

Before the fun starts this Labor Day, remember to designate a sober driver and don’t let friends or family members drive drunk. Even a small amount of alcohol can impair judgment and reaction times, making driving unsafe.

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is funded by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The crackdown runs concurrently with a media campaign reminding motorists that impaired driving has “Life or Death” consequences. Visit LifeOrDeathIllinois.com for more information.