The Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) is happy to announce that its highly successful DRUNKBUSTER Award Program is once again active in DuPage County effective July 1, 2011. The Drunkbuster Program pays $100 to citizens who successfully reported impaired drivers to the police. If a citizen observes suspicious driving behaviors, call 9-1-1 immediately and provide their information to the dispatcher.
AAIM is justifiably proud of the Drunkbuster program which has received national publicity and acknowledgement. To encourage drivers with cellular phones to report erratic driving to police, AAIM initiated the "Drunkbusters" program in 1990. AAIM gives $100 to tipsters whose calls lead to DUI arrests. To date Drunkbusters has paid out over $418,000, resulting in the arrest of over 4,181 impaired motorists. This program is funded entirely through court fines paid by DUI offenders. This life-saving program has been recognized with first place awards from the National Safety Council, Ameritech and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
This program runs year round in DuPage, Kane, McHenry, Lake and Will Counties.
Facts
1. Program started in 1990 throughout the entire state of Illinois with a $10,000 donation from an AAIM member.
2. Drunkbusters pays $100 to citizens who report an impaired motorist that leads to a DUI arrest. POLICE MUST OBSERVE DRIVING BEHAVIOR BEFORE MAKING AN ARREST!
3. Citizens have reported drunk drivers from convenience stores, gas stations, even an oil change store; but the most popular method is via cell phone.
4. Citizen calls police later to see if arrest was made and police fill out verification form and send to AAIM.
5. Program ran in Southern Wisconsin for two years (5/91-5/93), paying 30 awards.
6. Program went National for 1 year (5/92-5/93) through State Highway Police. Paid out 51 awards.
7. In 1993, funds were running out, so program was reduced to Illinois Holidays only.
8. Funding was requested from individual counties using a state law, which provides that judges, as a condition of supervision, may sentence offenders to contribute to an anti-crime program.
9. McHenry County program started Memorial Day, 1994. To date, 576 awards have been paid.
10. DuPage County program started Christmas Eve, 1994. To date, 1,919 awards have been paid through this program.
11. Lake County program started Christmas Eve, 1995. To date 1,420 awards have been paid.
12. Will County program started Christmas Eve, 2002. To date, 125 awards have been paid.
13. Kane County program started January 1, 2008. To date, 69 awards have been paid.