03/11/2026
FYI
***NEWS RELEASE***
St. Charles Police to Participate in IDOT’s St. Patrick’s Day DUI Campaign
ST. CHARLES, IL - (March 10, 2026) – St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and with it comes parades, celebrations, and plenty of green throughout communities across the state. To help ensure everyone gets home safely, the St. Charles Police Department will partner with the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation for a focused traffic safety campaign aimed at deterring impaired driving. The initiative will run from March 13 through March 22 and will include increased enforcement efforts throughout the city. The St. Charles Police Department will also be participating in a No Refusal event that is being put on by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office on March 14, 2026.
“With St. Patrick’s Day landing on a Tuesday this year, we anticipate festivities spanning the entire week, as well as the weekends before and after,” said Commander Rob Vicicondi. “We encourage everyone to make responsible choices. Before heading out, arrange for a sober ride home — making that plan in advance can save lives and help keep our community safe.”
During the enforcement period, the St. Charles Police Department will be looking for drivers impaired by alcohol and cannabis, along with other drugs, including prescription medications that can affect driving. Officers will also be stepping up seat belt enforcement, particularly at night when seat belt usage rates are lowest. Speeding, distracted driving and all traffic laws will be strictly enforced.
Police remind drivers that if you’ll be celebrating with alcohol or other impairing substances, please remember:
· Make a plan for a sober ride home before you go out.
· Use a ride-share service, such as Uber or Lyft, or a taxi.
· If you see a drunk driver, pull over safely and call 911.
· Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears their seat belt. It is the best defense against an impaired driver.
The Click It or Ticket/Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement effort is funded with federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.