Elgin ranked no. 2 in the state for having the most drunken driving arrests in 2023, according to the annual survey released by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists.
“Every arrest is a life potentially saved, a family spared from heartache, and a community united in the fight for road safety and peace of mind,” said Rita Kreslin, executive director of the alliance, known as AAIM.
The nonprofit organization surveyed 700 police agencies throughout the state to obtain DUI arrest data for the previous year. Chicago is in its own category due to its population size.
Aurora police took the top honor this year, chalking up 366 arrests for driving under the influence. Elgin’s second-place arrest number was 282, the survey said.
Rounding out the top 10 were Bloomington, Decatur, Rockford, Lombard, Waukegan, Elmhurst, West Chicago and Addison.
Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley said she’s proud of the continued enforcement efforts made by city police officers and their dedication to the department goal of traffic safety and enforcement.
“These daily efforts address the dangers that driving under the influence present to the entire community and we appreciate all they do to protect the citizens of Elgin,” she said.
County sheriff’s departments are also surveyed. In Kane County, the number of DUI arrests made in 2023 was 93, up by one over 2022. Winnebago County in the Rockford area scored the highest number of arrests with 526, far exceeding second-highest Lake County, which had 226 in 2023.
“Enforcing DUI laws is demanding yet crucial work,” Kreslin said. “The entire AAIM organization expresses gratitude for the officers’ daily sacrifice (and) dedication to ensuring road safety and saving lives. We deeply value their unwavering commitment.”
Elgin’s arrest numbers were up 2.2% over 2022, data showed. Aurora’s arrest rate jumped by 12.6%.
West Chicago had the largest increase — 184.7% — going from 74 arrests in 2022 to 205 in 2023. West Chicago Police Chief Colin Fleury is a former Elgin police commander.
DUI enforcement varies from department to department depending on the community’s size and how many sworn officers it has, Kreslin said. There tends to be increased enforcement when there’s public outrage over the number of crashes occurring, she said.
Nonprofit AAIM, established in 1982, has worked with more than 145,000 victims since it started. In addition to DUI cases, it also helps people involved in crashes caused by reckless or distracted driving and other factors, Kreslin said.
“Last year, we served nearly 3,000 victims. Every year, that number keeps going up,” she said.
Victim advocates help people understand their rights and offer support, Kreslin said. AAIM also can provide financial assistance.
“When someone is involved in a crash, they are not only left to pick up the pieces emotionally but financially,” she said, noting that impaired drivers often don’t have insurance.
To view the complete AAIM arrest survey data for 2023, go to drive.google.com/file/d/1FwSkEZCRfqPpw4zDQCu1q2Mh32UqqKpo/view.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.