The Illinois State Police has released enforcement figures from the Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols that were conducted throughout the month of February in District 13.
Capt. Michael Irwin, Illinois State Police District 13 Commander, said troopers working the patrols issued 95 citations and 52 written warnings to motorists. There were 73 citations issued for safety belt and child restraint violations.
Most motorists have learned that safety belts save lives, Irwin said, but some ignore their safety and that of their families by neglecting to use safety belts and child restraint devices. These patrols reinforce the occupant protection message by targeting those who choose to ignore the law. Lives can be saved if people simply buckle up, Irwin said.
The patrols are funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation/Division of Traffic Safety.
Irwin also announced the results of an Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement patrol which was conducted in Williamson and Franklin counties in February.
State troopers made 42 arrests, including driving under the influence of alcohol, two; speeding, eight; failure to wear safety belt, 11; total drug-/alcohol-related citations, 10; other IVC violations, 11.
The ISP wishes to remind those who drink and drive that future patrols will be conducted, and the ISP will continue to work to save lives by taking DUI offenders off the road, arresting them, and locking them up.
ACE patrols are part of the “You Drink and Drive, You Lose” campaign and when applicable are funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.
Irwin, District 13 Commander said Monday that District 13 troopers will work with local law enforcement agencies to conduct ACE patrols in Franklin and Williamson counties during the month of April.
The patrols allow the Illinois State Police to target an area with saturation patrols that focus on preventing, detecting and taking enforcement action in response to violations associated with impaired driving and illegal transportation or consumption of alcohol and other drugs.
