Should DUI Alcohol Limit Be Lowered To 0.05 Percent?

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends reducing the limit. Some say it would save lives. Others say it's unreasonable.

By David Mills One drink could be the standard for drunken driving – at least for some people if the National Transporation Safety Board has its way. On Tuesday, the NTSB recommended states lower the blood-alcohol threshold for driving under the influence from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent. What do you think? Is the proposal reasonable? About 10,000 deaths a year are related to drunken driving. The NTSB says the lower limit would save 500 to 800 lives a year. Officials at the American Beverage Institute called the proposal "ludicrous." It said the average woman could reach the 0.05 percent limit by having one drink. In 2011, 323 people were killed by alcohol-related crashed in Illinois, which makes up 35 percent of the 918 total crash …

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Oak Lawn DUI Arrests: April 13-15

Urinating during traffic stop and having an open bottle of Jim Beam are not ways to get on cops' good side, according to Oak Lawn police reports.

MONDAY APRIL 15 Police clocked a Chevy Tahoe driving 55mph in a 35mph zone around 12:59 a.m., reports said. Officers observed the driver, identified as Johnathon Jackson, 22, of Chicago, allegedly changing lanes without signalizing and driving erratically and nearly hitting another car. Officers said there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from the car. Jackson told police he was on his way to a Holiday Inn. While officers where checking Jackson’s license, police said he got out of his car and started urinating by the side of the street. He was told repeatedly to get back in his car, reports said. Police said Jackson finished urinating by his own car and then sat back down in the driver’s seat. After determining that Jackson’s license …

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Oak Lawn DUI Arrests, March 5-16

Budweiser drink of choice for drivers accused of driving under the influence in Oak Lawn.

SATURDAY MARCH 16 A man told police he was having a bad day when they stopped him for speeding around 10:33 p.m., reports said. Police said that Ahmed Alaylan, 35, was observed abruptly changing lanes when he was clocked driving 55mph in a 30mph zone. Ahmed was pulled over near 95th Street and 52nd Avenue, allegedly told the officer he had two Budweisers earlier in the evening. Police said Ahmed failed field sobriety tests. Ahmed refused to take a Breathlyzer test and had to be woken repeatedly during booking, reports said. He was charged with DUI and speeding. Ahmed’s next court appearance is May 2 in Bridgeview. WEDNESDAY MARCH 6 Azucena Garcia, 27, of Chicago, was charged with speeding and driving under the influence when her Dodge …

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Keep Those Irish Eyes Smilin'! Take A Cab Home on St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday. Before you head out for some green beer, plug these local cab companies' phone numbers in your phone and get home safe.

South Suburban DUI Arrests, Feb. 24

Cocky driver says he'll 'blow breathlyzer off the table,' and a woman drives across several lawns, taking out mailboxes, utility box and a fire hydrant in her path. This week's roundup of drunken driving arrests in the Southland.

  MOKENA Feb. 8: Taiwo Erinle, 32, of New Lenox, was found passed out at the wheel of his car with the engine running. The car was found at 3:45 a.m. Feb. 8 in the middle of two lanes of traffic on 191st St. at Wolf Road. According to the report, police said Taiwo Erinle's foot was on the brake, but the car was in the drive position. He was passed out at the wheel with the windows rolled up and rap music blaring.  The officer drove the squad about six inches in front of Erinle's car. He placed a push bar between the two bumpers to prevent Erinle's car from moving into traffic unexpectedly.  Police say it took shining a flashlight into the vehicle, pounding on the window and yelling to stir Erinle from his stupor. When finally he did wake, …

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Mr. Ed

1:34 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

60411, I can see by reading your rant that you are a product of the Chicago school system. Did they teach you what a dictionary is for. Is you language also know as Ubonics?   more ›

Oak Lawn DUI Arrests, Feb. 10-14

An open 12-pack of Miller in the back seat and leaning on the car for support while you talk to police isn't a good start to Valentine's day. Buzzed driving arrests in Oak Lawn.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14 An Oak Lawn police officer went to check the area of 95th Street and Kostner Avenue in response to a citizen's call of a reckless driver driving a Ford Explorer around 12:37 a.m., reports said.  Sign up for the Oak Lawn Patch newsletter and follow us on Facebook. Police said the driver, identified as David Bradley, 33, of Chicago, did not have a valid driver’s license when he was pulled over in the 5200 block of West 95th Street. Bradley smelled of alcohol and had to be asked several times for his driver's license, according to the report. After allegedly admitting to being “a little drunk” police said that Bradley had to lean on his car to keep his balance. Police said the citizen who phoned in the report positively …

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South Suburban DUI Arrests, Feb. 17

Woman cruises along sidewalk, nearly strikes streetlight; man runs a red light. This week's roundup of drunken driving arrests in the Southland.

  FRANKFORT Feb. 3: Maria Hull-Gecas, 35, of the 8800 block of Clare Avenue in Mokena, is charged with speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol at the intersection of S. 84th Avenue and W. Lincoln Highway in Frankfort. Feb. 2: A Homer Glen woman faces DUI charges after her car veered off the road while she was talking on the phone. Ingrid Katauskas, 43, of the 14000 block of S. Kickapoo Trail in Homer Glen, is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, using a wireless phone in a construction zone and driving the wrong way on a divided highway. Frankfort police were dispatched at 3 a.m. Feb. 2 to the 11100 block of Lincoln Highway in response to reports of a van stuck in a construction site. Upon arrival, the officer …

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South Suburban DUI Arrests, Feb. 10

If an officer asks for your license, he's probably not looking for a stare down—but that's exactly what one alleged drunken driver offered cops, this week in Southland drunken driving arrest reports.

  CHICAGO HEIGHTS Feb. 4: Damen L. Ingram, of the 23400 block of Western Avenue in Park Forest was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after police stopped him near the intersection of Euclid and Main Street for turning without signaling, according to the report. When asked for his license and proof of insurance, Ingram silently stared at the officer, police said. Asked a second time, Ingram handed police his identification card, then went back to staring with a blank expression. The officer clarified that he needed Ingram's driver's license, not a state ID, and Ingram handed him his license. Police could smell alcohol on his breath, according to the report. The officer then noticed a plastic bag, containing a…

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Oak Lawn DUI Arrests, Jan. 25-29

Out-of-towners living it up in Oak Lawn and malt liquor for lunch are just a few of the traffic mishaps allegedly involving alcohol and other controlled substances.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29 Find out how many drinks will get you a DUI. SUNDAY, JANUARY 27 FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome. Are You a Fan of True Crime? Like our Crime-N-Shame Facebook page to stay on top of the big stories and the weird ones.

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Avoid a 'Super Catastrophe': Call A Cab Today If You've Had Too Much to Drink

Don't ruin the big game by getting a DUI. Call a cab if you've had too much to drink.

Many local bars will be hosting parties where you can eat, drink and watch the Super Bowl. So why ruin a great day by getting a DUI on the way home. Here are some numbers for local cab companies eager to get you home safe and sound. Your driver will appreciate your business and the tip. Plug these numbers into your phone before you go out. If the line is busy, try again, or go down the list, but don't risk driving home drunk.

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