Palatine Police Plan St. Patrick's Crackdown

The Palatine Police Department will use saturation patrols from March 12 through March 20 in an effort to crackdown on drunk drivers.

The department is participating in the Illinois Department of Transportation St. Patrick's Day Holiday Traffic Safety Crackdown. The increased patrols will be partially paid for with grants from the state.

"From March 12 through March 20, 2012, the Palatine Police Department will be saturating the roadways with officers looking for impaired driving, occupant protection, and speeding violations," a press release states. "These are found to be the greatest contributing factors in serious injury and fatal motor vehicle crashes."

Palatine also will conduct a roadside safety check near Algonquin and Roselle Roads starting in the evening on March 16 through the early morning of March 17.

"According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the midnight to 3 a.m. timeframe is the deadliest time on Illinois roads. This timeframe also has the lowest occupant restraint use involving motor vehicle fatalities," the press release states.