A former Eastern student was drinking when he offered to drive friends to a house party from Taylor Hall.

After pulling up to the party on Oct. 28, 19-year-old Brendon Burke said he saw the lights of the police car behind him.

Burke, from Bellville, said the police stopped him because he had a non-functioning headlight and because he allegedly blew through a stop sign.

Burke said the cops administered a field sobriety test, which he failed, and he was arrested.

Burke said he remembers being questioned by the police: “How much did you drink?” and “Where were you?”

Burke said the worst part of the questioning was sitting in the interrogation room and realizing his mistake.

“You’re sitting there and you’re like, ‘I screwed up,'” Burke said.

After telling his parents, they made the decision for him to not attend Eastern for the spring semester, a decision that Burke said he understood.

“My parents always told me that whatever you do: ‘don’t drink and drive,'” Burke said.

Burke said the worst consequence he has faced from his DUI charge has been the financial burden and having his license suspended for six months.

“It’s kind of tough now because I’m back home and I don’t have a job or anything,” Burke said.

Burke said he could also see people being in a similar situation.

“I could see people doing it, but I don’t recommend it all after my experience,” Burke said.

Burke said he no longer attends Eastern because his parents decided not to enroll him because he received a DUI charge during the Fall Semester.

Adam Due, Chief of Eastern Illinois University Police Department, said the number of instances of drunken driving charges has risen.

“It’s been on the rise the last few years,” Due said.

Due said he has attributed the increase in DUI occurrences to the funding the police department has received from the government, that Due said has allowed better training, more patrols, and stronger enforcement.

Due said he also thinks age is a factor when it comes to the number of DUIs because he said the majority of the cases are from the 18- to 23-age range.

“They are the ones that are immature enough to get in the car and drive,” Due said.

Due said he also thinks drinking is a bigger deal to those ages 18 to 23.

“You don’t see the 27-year-olds at the bar,” Due said.

Due said it is usually the younger ones that get in trouble for alcohol-related offenses while drinking is not a big deal to older residents.

Due said he also thinks the college students’ mentality sway their decision to partake in alcohol-related activities.

“Students think that everyone is drinking when they get here,” Due said. “There are a lot of students that don’t drink.”

Due said driving while intoxicated is not worth all the consequences.

“There’s just so many reasons not to do it,” Due said.

Due said the financial aspect of lawyers and court costs, as well as having a revoked license, are all examples of the negative consequences of drunk driving.

“You can do all the catchy sayings, but when it comes down to it, be smart because you are putting yourself, and others, at risk,” Due said.

Burke’s case is still ongoing.

Kathryn Richter can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].