do not fire your gun on New Year’s Eve.
Beefed-Up Patrols To Target Illegal Holiday Revelry
Police Urge Hugs, Not Guns, For NYE Celebrations
POSTED: 4:06 pm CST December 30, 2005
UPDATED: 6:46 pm CST December 30, 2005
CHICAGO — Chicago police announced plans Friday to beef up patrols for New Year’s Eve celebrations and to target residents whose idea of partying includes drinking and driving, firing a weapon, or setting off fireworks.
NBC5′s Charlie Wojciechowski said that revelers can expect to see a greater police presence in the downtown area Saturday night.
Chicago police, suburban police departments, and the Illinois State Police planned to step up driving under the influence enforcement and dispatch extra patrols to areas where celebratory gunfire and fireworks were a problem last year, Superintendent Philip J. Cline said.
“There will be extra officers who are specifically looking for people committing these types of offenses,” Cline said during a Friday afternoon news conference at police headquarters, 3510 S. Michigan Ave.
Police also reminded motorists about changes in the DUI statute that takes affect on Jan. 1, which will stiffen penalties against drunken drivers, Riverside Police Chief Gene Karczewski said.
Under the changes, known as Gordon’s Law, anyone arrested for a DUI who doesn’t have a driver’s license or insurance, or who has two previous DUI convictions, or anyone arrested for driving on a suspended or revoked license stemming from serious driving offenses, will be charged with a Class four felony, Karczewski said.
The family of Chicago police Officer Michael Gordon, who was killed by a drunken driver while on duty in 2004, helped push for the new legislation, according to a news release issued by police.
The tougher laws will help protect innocent people from being killed, said Robert Gordon, Michael Gordon’s father, and a retired Riverside assistant police chief.
“Driving drunk is like driving a loaded gun, and people who do it will be arrested,” Gordon said.
Jim Law, of the Mayor’s Office Of Special Events, said the city expects tens of thousands of people to be in the downtown area Saturday night.
City-sponsored fireworks displays will be held both and Buckingham Fountain and Navy Pier.
The professional displays are your best bet, Wojciechowski said, because police will be on the lookout for individuals shooting off illegal fireworks.
Police also mentioned they would be cracking down on calls of shots being fired throughout the city, Cline said.
Last year in Chicago on New Year’s Eve, police were dispatched to 662 shots fired calls, confiscated 125 guns, and arrested more than 200 people, Cline said. Police also made 60 DUI arrests, he said.
“Every shot that goes up has to come down,” Cline said. “We don’t want to see any victims of senseless violence or impaired driving,” Cline said.
About 70 police officials are expected to work the streets this weekend, including a few department supervisors, Cline said.
“I’ll be out there with the rest of the guys who do it every day,” Cline said.
Cline warned that anyone caught with a gun on New Year’s Eve would be charged with a felony and stressed police will be seeking high bonds.
“We want people to ring in the New Year with hugs and toasts, not guns and fireworks,” Cline said.
City News Service contributed to this story.
http://www.nbc5.com/entertainment/5738896/detail.html
accessed 12/30/05
Its a Dallas Living tip as well. The #1 Dallas Tip these days – No Outdoor Open Flame! I love that people are still shooting firecrackers tonight Downtown. The entire State of Texas being a tinderbox due to lack of rain just makes them want to play with fire more. My current background music – firecrackers AND an occasional random gunshot.