Just ahead of the July 4 weekend, law enforcement officials from DuPage County and the Illinois State Police are promoting their success in seizing vehicles from repeat drunken driving offenders and other criminals.

Illinois law allows authorities to seize vehicles used in 48 different criminal offenses. These include driving under the influence, driving on a suspended or revoked license, solicitation of a child and murder.

Since the state began allowing seizures nine year ago, DuPage County authorities have seized about 3,000 vehicles from chronic drunken drivers and other offenders, State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said Tuesday at a news conference at the Naperville Police Department.

"The Fourth of July weekend is coming up. It's a terrible weekend for this type of behavior," Birkett said. "There are a lot more people on the roadways and, unfortunately, too many people drinking and driving."

Of the 394 seizures in DuPage County in 2007, 65 percent stemmed from arrests for driving while license revoked or suspended related to DUI charges, authorities said. In addition 31 percent were related to DUI arrests, and the remaining 4 percent were for non-traffic related offenses. About two-thirds of the vehicles seized have been awarded to the seizing agency.

Birkett said vehicle seizure has proven to be an effective deterrent, which is shown by the low rate of repeat offenses by drivers whose vehicles have been taken away.

"We'd like to seize and forfeit fewer vehicles," he said. "But unfortunately, far too many people continue to drink and drive. The message is don't drink and drive. And if you're suspended or revoked for drunk driving or a reckless homicide, don't drive a vehicle."

Naperville Police Chief David Dial, Darien Police Chief Robert Pavelchik and Illinois State Police Cmdrs. Jeffrey Hedrich and Tami Haukedahl joined Birkett at the news conference.

Dial and Pavelchik said both their departments are running out of room to store the vehicles they are seizing.

"My officers take a lot of pride in ... seizing vehicles of repeat offenders, because nothing makes us more angry than to find someone who just absolutely refuses to play by the rules," Pavelchik said.

The state police and law enforcement agencies throughout the county will be stepping up enforcement of drunken driving laws over the July 4 weekend.