Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The National Transportation Safety Board recommends reducing the limit. Some say it would save lives. Others say it's unreasonable.
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. 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. According to CyberDriveIllinois.com's 2013 DUI Fact Book, there were 10,175 DUI arrests in Cook County in 2011; 10,903 DUI arrests in 2010; and 11,375 DUI arrests in 2009. DUI facts from…
Friday, February 1, 2013
Jennifer Spinney pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol at the Cook County Circuit Court on Friday.
Winnetka Trustee Jennifer Spinney pleaded guilty to DUI Friday, having been pulled over in September and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane usage and improper turning. Spinney pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, which means she must pay a $1,329 fine, be under supervision for one year, attend a victim impact panel and have a suspended license for a period of time. The Cook County Circuit Court clerk's office in Skokie said it's unclear how long her license will be suspended. The remaining charges of improper lane usage and improper turning were dismissed. Spinney was charged with driving under the influence and traffic violations after officers said they saw her driving erratically in…
Monday, November 26, 2012
Winnetka Trustee Jennifer Spinney was in court today following her September DUI arrest.
Winnetka Trustee Jennifer Spinney made a brief appearance in court Monday in her DUI case, before the hearing was pushed back until Feb. 1. Neither Spinney nor her attorney would comment after she appeared in front of Judge Larry G. Axelrood at the Cook County Circuit Courthouse in Skokie Monday morning. This is the second time her court date has been pushed back. She has not yet entered a plea in the case. Spinney was pulled over Sept. 6 in Skokie after police say they say her making a series of traffic violations before being pulled over near the 9200 block of McCormick Boulevard. According to the police report, Spinney had bloodshot eyes, combined with slurred speech and a strong alcohol odor on her breath. Also, according to the report…
Saturday, November 24, 2012
On what may be the biggest drinking "holiday" of the year, Cook County announces a new plan for roadside DUI death memorials.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
On what may be the biggest drinking "holiday" of the year, Cook County announces a new plan for roadside DUI death memorials.
- PUBLIC SAFETY
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Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The night before Thanksgiving is known as the biggest party night of the year. Almost a holiday unto itself with a name of its own, Black Wednesday is a night to rival New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day for overindulgence in alcohol. In many communities, extra officers will be on patrol and local officials warn bar owners not to overserve their patrons. So it's not a coincidence that Cook County this week announced a new DUI Memorial Program. For $150, families of anyone killed in a DUI fatality can purchase a roadside memorial marker to be placed alongside any highway under the county's jurisdiction. The marker includes a “Please Don’t Drink and Drive” sign and an optional commemorative plaque with the deceased loved one’s name and …
Friday, September 14, 2012
In 2010, adults drank too much and got behind the wheel about 112 million times, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
Winnetka Trustee Jennifer Spinney’s arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol has sparked a debate on Patch, with some people seemingly downplaying the incident and others saying they hope she’s publically shamed as a way of making others think before getting behind the wheel when they’ve had too much to drink. According to Skokie police, who pulled her over, Spinney told them that she is "not a criminal," but "a drunk driver.” Some readers commented that even though DUI is a serious offense Spinney did not hurt anyone in the process. “Ms. Spinney will pay for this mistake. Let’s not take away from her character. She has served the Village of Winnetka for two years and made great changes in the town,” Patrick wrote. “She makes …
Friday, September 7, 2012
Jennifer Spinney, a Winnetka trustee, was charged with a DUI in Skokie on Sept. 6. According to the report, Spinney told police she is 'not a criminal' but a 'drunk driver.'
A Winnetka village trustee was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and several other traffic violations in Skokie on Sept. 6 around 1:41 a.m. Jennifer Spinney, 60, of the 200 block of Sheridan Road in Winnetka, was stopped near the 9200 block of McCormick Boulevard after police said they witnessed her make a variety of traffic violations. According to the report, Spinney was driving over the white lane dividers for more than an entire block and was doing 25 in a 40 mph speed zone. Officers would later ask Spinney to exit the vehicle for a field sobriety test to which she replied, “I just want to go home,” according to the report. Earlier in the evening, Spinny attended the grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration of …
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
From a very drunk man behind the wheel to a wanted man caught in Northfield, these are the most interesting police reports from last week.
Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 8:29 a.m. Employees at Teddie Kossof Salon and Spa on Waukegan Road called police Wednesday morning after an odd customer continued to call the business. The police report indicates that the client was harassing the salon workers repeatedly on the phone, so police intervened and solved the issue. Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 8:21 p.m. Northfield police pulled over 49-year-old Mario Ruiz-Serna Wednesday night for a traffic error, but said they soon found out he was heavily under the influence of alcohol. According to the report, the Beach Park resident made an illegal turn into a one-way alley near Central Avenue and Ash Street prompting police to move in. Police said Ruiz-Serna not only failed to have car insurance, but also…
Friday, August 31, 2012
The police department says not to risk a DUI this Labor Day. They plan to keep an extra watchful eye on drivers.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Friday, August 31, 2012
Glencoe Public Safety announced its late-night plans for the 2012 Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over/Click It or Ticket” crackdown. The intensified enforcement effort against impaired drivers and seat belt law violators underscores the disproportionate number of traffic deaths involving alcohol and unbelted motorists. The stepped-up enforcement will begin August 17, and run through Labor Day, September 3. Enforcement efforts will concentrate on the hazardous nighttime hours. According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the midnight to 3 a.m. timeframe is the deadliest time on Illinois roadways. The data also shows this time of day has the highest …
Thursday, August 30, 2012
From a thief who attempted to steal a bunch of frozen road kill to a Winnetka man caught driving drunk with a cup of whiskey, these are the most interesting police reports.
Wednesday, Aug. 15 Jeffery Wilson Jr., 27, of Bartlett was arrested Wednesday for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of drugs and driving under the influence of a mind-altering substance. Wilson also didn’t have car insurance, police said. He was pulled over by Glencoe police near the corner of Green Bay and Glen Cook roads. His pending court date is Sept. 19. Thursday, Aug. 16 An unknown suspect broke into the Glencoe Public Works facility on the 600 block of Village Court Thursday night in an attempt to enter a building most people wouldn’t dare. According to the report, someone cut the fence around the perimeter, snuck onto the grounds and cut the lock on the large freezer-shed that public works uses to store deceased animals…
Sandrina Roc
8:48 am on Thursday, May 16, 2013
What ridiculous comments. "ludicrous." It said the average woman could reach the 0.05 percent limit by having one drink." "You're going to put restaurants out of business." If testing has been done (which was not mentioned and should be done if it hasn't) and it shows that driving is impaired enough when one's blood alcohol content is .05, then lower it. Should we really worry about restaurants … more ›