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Gov.
Blagojevich kicks off TrAIL, Don’t Be Sorry programs
in Kendall County
TrAIL
program assists law enforcement in identifying people who
sell alcohol to minors
DATE:
March 16, 2007
CONTACT: Ted Penesis (ted.penesis@illinois.gov)
CHICAGO—In response to the tragedy
that took five young lives in Oswego last month, Gov. Rod
R. Blagojevich announced today he will expand the state's
effort in cracking down on those who provide alcohol to minors
by introducing the TrAIL (Tracking
Alcohol in IL) Program and Don't Be Sorry
programs to Kendall County.
“Like any parent, my top concern is making sure my kids
are safe,” says Gov. Blagojevich. “I can't imagine
the pain and anguish of parents who lose their children. What
happened in Oswego last month was devastating, not just for
the families impacted, but for the entire community. Their
tragedy should motivate all of us to do everything we can
to make sure our young people are safe, and to help them make
good decisions. The TrAIL program does that by bringing together
state resources to crack down on those who help minors get
alcohol and helping reinforce the responsibility we all have
prevent underage drinking.”
Funded through a $100,000 traffic safety grant from the Illinois
Department of Transportation (IDOT), this Illinois Liquor
Control Commission (ILCC) initiative is designed to target
alcohol sources in underage drinking-related fatalities and
injuries. To complement the increased law enforcement in these
counties, the Governor will also expand the state’s Don’t
Be Sorry campaign to educate teens, parents, and liquor
retailers on the consequences of underage drinking and providing
alcohol to minors. (To order educational materials, visit
www.DontBeSorry.org
on the web.)
“Underage drinking affects us all; whether you are a
parent, teenager, or business owner,” says House Minority
Leader Tom Cross, who represents the Oswego area. “Modeling
responsible behavior will go a long way toward keeping our
kids safe.”
Adds State Senator Linda Holmes: “TrAIL enables law enforcement
to pool their resources and serve Kendall County's ever-burgeoning
population at an even higher level of response. With state
and local law enforcement working together, the residents
of one of the ten fastest growing areas in the United States
can be assured that those who provide alcohol to minors will
be held accountable.”
Under the TrAIL program, a special investigation is conducted
when underage alcohol consumption is suspected in an incident—such
as a car crash, underage drinking party, alcohol poisoning/overdose,
sexual assault or other event—that results in injury
or death. If the above criteria are met, first responding
officers will call a 24-hour hotline number to deploy a TrAIL
investigator, who will assist in the collection of evidence
and determine where the alcohol was purchased or served.
“I feel TrAIL is another resource that will aid in the
apprehension and education of alcohol use and abuse by children,”
says Chief Dwight Baird of the Oswego Police Department. “I
hope that this will help children make better decisions before
alcohol use becomes a problem. We want adults to know that
if you sell or provide alcohol to a child, you will be caught
and prosecuted. Zero tolerance is our practice.”
In addition to Kendall County, the TrAIL protocol has been
activated in the following seven other counties: Kane, McHenry,
Sangamon, Jackson, Whiteside, Carroll, and Jo Daviess. Just
last week, four people were subsequently arrested in the Jo
Daviess town of Stockton after a double fatality car crash
due to underage drinking. “The TrAIL Program was invaluable
in assisting the Stockton Police Department in apprehending
the individuals responsible for providing the alcohol,”
says Detective Sergeant La Don Trost of the Stockton Police
Department.
“TrAIL gives us another tool in our arsenal to combat
underage drinking,” says Kendall County Sheriff Richard
Randall. “For example, we can call upon special agents
from the Liquor Commission to conduct inspections of licensed
liquor establishments without a warrant.”
In the end, Kendall County State's Attorney Eric Weis believes
TrAIL will aid his office in the prosecuting of cases. “By
assisting law enforcement in the gathering of evidence quickly,
we increase the likelihood of making the charges stick.”
Please click here for more details
about TrAIL, Don't Be Sorry, and some of the other Governor
initiatives
Other
Industry Education Links:
News Releases
ILCC Newsletters
Illinois
Liquor Control Act
Browse and/or download
Illinois Liquor Control Commission
Rules and Regulations
Browse and/or download
Tobacco Program
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