The biggest annual sporting spectacle is finally here.
Super Bowl 52 between the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots kicks off this Sunday in Minneapolis with millions and millions spectators tuning in – some just to watch whatever funny commercials that companies have come up with.
An actual piece of legislation is the only thing separating the following Monday from being deemed a national holiday. As the millions of viewers grab their remotes and devour every buffalo wing they can get their hands on, thousands of drivers are hitting the road to watch parties or a friend’s house to catch the big game. Knowing that Sunday often fills the roadways with drivers – and that the act of watching football and consuming a few adult beverages often go hand-in-hand – the Illinois State Police are reminding local travelers to be extra cautious on the state’s roadways.
Illinois State Police District 20 Commander, Captain Jon Dively, is announcing that there will be additional enforcement plans this Super Bowl weekend. Troopers will be strictly enforcing specific moving violations known as the “FATAL-4,” which include: DUIs, speeding, distracted driving, and seat belt compliance, with extra emphasis being placed on impaired driving.
According to a release from the ISP, troopers issued more than 17-hundred FATAL-4 citations statewide during the 2017 Super Bowl weekend. Of those 17-hundred-plus citations, 195 were arrests related to alcohol. Also during last year’s Super Bowl weekend, state police reported two alcohol-related crashes, that resulted in two fatalities.