Elmhurst Police Stepping Up DUI Enforcement Through the Long Holiday Weekend

Black Wednesday—also known as "blackout" Wednesday or Drunksgiving Eve, is arguably the biggest party weekend of the year according to multiple news sources, including the Chicago Sun-Times. Bar owners say Black Wednesday crowds often exceed those on New Year's Eve or St. Patrick's Day, according to the article.

The reasons aren't hard to figure out: College kids are home for the Thanksgiving holiday, it's a long, four-day weekend for many, homes are fully stocked with liquor and bars are loaded with drink specials.

According to the Sun-Times article, an Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists representative said that in 2010 there were 2,780 alcohol-related crashes between Wednesday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, and 15 deaths.

As the revelry gets under way, and all throughout the weekend, Elmhurst police will have additional officers on the roads looking for impaired drivers and other violators. The campaign, which began last week and continues through Nov. 27, is funded through a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation with the goal of reducing fatal and serious-injury crashes.

The extra officers will be on patrol from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Police are encouraging citizens to contact them if they see a vehicle that is being driven erratically.

For information on the penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol, visit the Illinois State Police web site.