Feb 3, 2007 1:33 pm US/Central
Police Prepare To Keep Order, Watch Drivers Sunday
State, Local Agencies To Team Up To Find Drunken Drivers
CBS 2's Jim Williams contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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As bars and football fans get ready to party, Chicago police are planning extra patrols for Super Bowl Sunday.
CBS
Police are developing their game plan to prevent drunken driving during Super Bowl weekend.
More than 100 state troopers in addition to the usual force are teaming up with dozens of local agencies to beef up patrols on Sunday night.
The kegs stacked up on Division Street speak volumes. Preparations are underway for the Super Bowl.
Like many bars in Chicago's entertainment district, it will be a glass-free Sunday at Butch McGuire's. The bar will use plastic cups only and will have extra staff on hand to keep the party under control.
"We'll have three doormen, plus the owner will be here watching the door as well, kinda walking around making sure safe and our count's good," said Justin Cordes of Butch McGuire's.
By count he means the number of people in the bar. Fire marshals will visit many of Chicago's hotspots making sure there's no overcrowding.
There will be no parking on several Chicago streets Sunday. A stretch of Division will be closed to traffic altogether.
Police will be cracking down on fans who have partied too hard and decided to drive anyway, and remind anyone celebrating the Super Bowl to have a designated driver.
Police also say if you are hosting a Super Bowl party, you should offer cabs to your guests and stop serving alcohol in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, win or lose, Chicago Police will be on guard on Super Bowl Sunday to ensure that Bears fans don't get out of hand.
Extra officers were on patrol during the 2005 World Series, but White Sox fans did not cause any major problems celebrating the team's big win.
At a news conference Friday morning, police Supt. Philip Cline outlined some plans for Sunday's big event.
"Chicago Police will have patrol coverage focusing on the Loop, entertainment venues and other points around the city. Mounted and bike patrol units will be also deployed, as well as our helicopter for aerial patrol to support our coverage," Cline said.
"We want everybody to have a good time but we want to keep everyone safe -- that's our goal," Cline said Friday at a new conference.
Police want to prevent a repeat of celebrations that got out of hand on Division after the Bulls won their second championship in June of 1992. People overturned and stomped on cars.
This Sunday the very cold weather will keep many inside, but police will still be on guard with extra patrols.
"Sometimes the cold weather clouds the brain with that alcohol and they're going to get out there and do it. I guarantee we're going to see somebody you film with no shirt on someone standing on the street after the game," Cline said.
Parking will be banned on some Chicago streets on the night of the Super Bowl.
In Indiana, the liquor and alcohol will not be sold on Sunday.
Partygoers gearing up for the Super Bowl will have to make their purchases on Saturday.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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