About two weeks into the professional baseball season, it's finally beginning to feel like spring: The smell of fresh-cut grass, the warmth of the sun, and the crack of the bat. Baseball is a wonderful family pastime, but all-too-often it is tarnished by the over-consumption of (overpriced) beer. However, fans should be aware of the presence of sobriety checkpoints this season.
Do you really want to dial the number of a Chicago DUI lawyer with a foam finger on one hand and a scorecard in the other?
Days before the White Sox home opener against the, uh, Milwaukee Brewers earlier this week, Fox Chicago reported that Chicago officials and police issued a public service announcement urging fans to avoid committing an error that could jeopardize the ride back home.
All baseball metaphors aside, the city wants fans to show some responsibility before, during, and after visiting Wrigley Field or U.S. Cellular Field. Ald. James Balcer (11th), quoted in the article, explains:
"Number one, drink and drive responsibly. Number two, respect the community. Number three, don't litter in our communities. Don't walk out of the ballpark with liquor in your hand or in our communities, in our bars."
Drinking often is a major part of watching baseball, like it or not, so officials also urge fans to consider public transportation. Luckily Chicago is blessed with an extensive rail and bus system. The Chicago Transit Authority provides service to both stadiums 24 hours a day.
But how effective is an effort to reduce drinking and driving without backing it up with some teeth? In this case, police have promised they will be setting up sobriety checkpoints on both the North and South Side on game days. They also plan to strictly enforce curfews for teenage Cubs and Sox fans.
So have fun out there and go ahead and enjoy a beer or two, if you can afford it, but don't drink and drive. If you do, you could get tagged out on your way home.
Related Resources:
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Sobriety Checkpoints (LawBrain)
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Andrew Gallo, Driver in Adenhart Crash, DUI at Time of Crash; Faces Murder Charges (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty Blog)
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Find a Chicago DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
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