Family get-togethers. Cocktail parties. Office parties. They’re coming at you this week, and you can neither run nor hide. Use our simple Windy City Party Etiquette guide to get through any holiday party, big, small, or otherwise. more ›

A new study by the Scripps Howard News Service found that a third of traffic deaths linked directly to drinking and driving, out of nearly 6,000 traffic fatalities in Cook County between 1994 and 2008. When comparing data from across the country, Scripps Howard also listed Cook County's portion of Interstate 94 as the 11th most dangerous road in the nation, with 301 fatalities between 1994 and 2008. more ›

Eddie Lumpkin, 48, an auto mechanic, who was accused of driving drunk on Tuesday when he allegedly hit and killed a 6-year-old girl also admitted to smoking marijuana shortly before the crash, Cook County prosecutors said in court on Friday. Lumpkin's bail was set at $500,000 during the hearing at the 26th and California courthouse. more ›

According to the Kane County Chronicle: more ›

It seems there's a lot of drinking going on in Schererville, Indiana these days. Police stopped a 24-year-old woman for speeding and then arrested her for driving under the influence with her one year old son in the car. Police called the child's father to pick him up, but the father showed drunk and was also arrested. Next, the police called the child's grandparents who, yep, had also been drinking. After they determined the grandmother's blood-alcohol-content was below the legal limit, they allowed her to drive the child home, escorting her. [WBBM] more ›

Illinois is joining five other states with first-offense mandatory ignition-lock breathalyzers starting January 1. Currently, Illinois drivers who are repeat DUI offenders who want to drive with a suspended suspended license can have the locks installed, and about 3,000 have. The locks cost $150 to install and around $100 a month thereafter, all of which is paid for by the drunk driver. According to a spokeswoman for Illinois MADD, the dashboard devices are "90 percent effective in reducing repeat offenses." [S-T, Total DUI]
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A two-car crash on the South Side killed four people and injured four others this morning. more ›

Here's what our local ne'erdowells have been up to while waiting in eager anticipation for tonight's Oscars: more ›

The City of Chicago has no compunction about separating motorists from their cars. Chicagoist had their car towed once because they parked in the financial district on Veteran's Day; the streets were empty, there were no cars driving or parked anywhere. That part of the Loop was a ghost town. We were shocked when we came back to find our car gone. When we called to find out what had happened and recited the sign... more ›

In light of the death of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock, who was driving drunk at the time of his fatal accident, many baseball teams have re-addressed their alcohol policies for players. The Cards were the first team to ban alcohol from their clubhouse in the wake of this tragedy, with the Nationals following suit. The Yankees, who already banned alcohol in the home locker room, have now banned it in the visitors' locker... more ›

The Sun-Times is running a story today sure to inspire horror stories from all of Chicagoist's readers. City officials say five cab drivers have lost their cab licenses in the last two years as a result of driving offenses and other misbehavior. Three of them were for moving violations, including one going 85 m.p.h. in a 45 m.p.h. zone, one was for drunk driving, and one driver was accused of fondling a female passenger sitting in the front seat. And you never sit up there because you don't want to catch his B.O. more ›

We knew a week off would recharge our batteries for this feature, but who knew meeting our word count this week would be as easy as beating a Big Ten team in the NCAA tournament? And we're not even including the poor guy who cut off his own wang. Drumroll please... more ›

A recent report from the state’s Auditor General says the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) hired inexperienced workers, did not fully utilize federal funding for safety projects, and mismanaged a reorganization of the agency in 2004. It goes on to criticize the hiring of two friends of Governor Blagojevich with histories of drunk driving into the department. Last month Blago’s longtime friend Dan Stefanski was quietly let go from his special assistant position after being... more ›

Call this week's installment the CBS 2 edition. The TV news channels always supply the best stories, and CBS came up with 5 winners this time. more ›

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What would you do to avoid being caught drunk driving? How about jump off the Chicago Skyway? That's what Minh Van Hua did on Tuesday night. more ›

As always, there's a shitload of things to do this weekend. Go out have fun and don't forget to pick up some packs of sparklers. Even if you don't use them this year, it may be the last year you can get them legally... and you never know when a little sparkler action's gonna be needed. Stock up now. So here we go - more ›

Does anyone else find this a bit odd? All over the news we're hearing that the police and community activists are asking us not to shoot guns in the air to celebrate the new year. And that anyone caught with a gun on New Year's Eve will be charged with a felony. And that bullets that are shot up into the air often come down with deadly consequences. All we keep thinking is "uh, how about no guns.. ever.. and bullets that go up always come down.. every day.. not just on New Year's." more ›