MADD Illinois to Launch Unprecedented Crackdown on Drunk Driving This Labor Day

   MADD Joins National Effort With Tens of Thousands of Law Enforcement
          Officers Warning Drivers: You Drink & Drive. You Lose.

  What:   Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Illinois will hold a news
          conference to kick off a statewide drunk driving crackdown that
          aims to keep our streets safe at a historically dangerous period
          -- Labor Day weekend. MADD is working with law enforcement this
          holiday weekend to send the message: if you drive over the legal
          limit, you will be under arrest.

          The statewide Illinois crackdown, You Drive & Drive. You Lose., is
          part of a national drunk driving crackdown sponsored by the
          National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Illinois
          state partners include MADD Illinois, the Illinois Department of
          Transportation (IDOT) and state and local law enforcement
          agencies. During the national crackdown, law enforcement officials
          will intensify enforcement of drunk driving laws by conducting
          high visibility enforcement efforts such as sobriety checkpoints
          and saturation patrols.

  When:   MADD Illinois Press Conference: August 17, 10:00 a.m.

  Where:  Buckingham Fountain South Rose Garden, East Columbus Drive and
          Congress Parkway
          Grant Park, Chicago, Ill. 60601

  Who:    Attending the press conference will be:
          *  Glynn Birch, National President of MADD
          *  Susan McKinney, Executive Director of MADD Illinois
          *  Donald McNamara, Regional Administrator of the National Highway
             Traffic Safety Administration
          *  Clayton Harris, Chief of Staff to Secretary Tim Martin of the
             Illinois Department of Transportation
          *  Len Stallworth, Commander of the Illinois State Police
          *  A representative from the Cook County Sheriff's Office
          *  A representative from the Chicago Police Department
          *  Representatives from Chicago-area law enforcement agencies
          *  Nancy Camacho, a victim of drunk driving

  Why:    Drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent
          crime. In 2004, more than 500 people were killed in Illinois in
          drunk driving crashes, and nationally, the problem appears to be
          getting worse. Research shows that the aggressive enforcement of
          drunk driving laws will help reduce deaths and injuries due to
          drunk driving. The 18-day enforcement wave in Illinois, which runs
          from August 18 through Labor Day, is based on a proven public
          health model that reduces deaths due to drunk driving.

MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501 (c) (3) charity with approximately 400 affiliate offices and 2 million members and supporters nationwide. Founded in 1980, MADD has helped save more than 300,000 lives. For more information, visit http://www.madd.org/.

PRNewswire -- Aug. 11