Jo Daviess County Sheriff Issues Pre-Holiday Warning

The cold weather is here to stay. That means across the Tri-State Area, we'll soon be dealing with salted roads, black ice, drifts, and white-out conditions depending on the day and hour. I mean it is Iowa, if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes.

Any way, we've got no control over the weather, but it sure can make driving difficult. That being said, don't make driving even more difficult this holiday season. I'm off course talking about impaired driving and a recent warning issued by the Jo Daviess County Sheriff.

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The Sheriff’s Office is joining forces with the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement for the statewide “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaigns, running from November 21st to December 2nd. Officers will be paying extra attention to seat belt use, speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving; that includes alcohol and cannabis (as well as any other illicit drug use). Let’s face it, no matter how good it is, a bottle of uncle LeeRoy's homemade apple pie is not worth a trip to the emergency room or a DUI.

Adding more muscle to the effort, the department recently received a federal STEP grant for fiscal year 2026, giving deputies extra resources to target high-risk areas, conduct enforcement campaigns, and remind drivers that safety is everyone’s responsibility. More patrols, occasional checkpoints, and targeted campaigns like “Drive High. Get a DUI” aim to prevent crashes before they can ever happen. Driving is a privilege, with the added responsibility of keeping families and travelers safe.

“Thanksgiving brings more vehicles, longer trips and more festivities. Seat belts remain one of the simplest and most effective ways to save your life in a crash. We’re asking every driver and passenger to buckle up, every trip, every time — and to make a plan for a sober ride before the celebrations begin. If you drink alcohol or use cannabis, don’t drive.”

-Lt. Kirk Raab, Jo Daviess County Sheriff's Office

This Thanksgiving, enjoy the food, the family, and the football. And hey, why not have a brew with dad? Just make sure to plan for a safe trip. Buckle up, drive sober, or let someone else handle the driving, if you've been flying. Keep it safe out there Tri-States, your local law enforcement has a sharp eye peeled.