State police planning nighttime enforcement patrols in Union County
Illinois State Police District 22 is planning to conduct nighttime enforcement patrols in Union County during October.
Plans for the patrols were announced by Capt. Michael Alvey, who is the commander of District 22.
Alvey also has announced the results of a roadside safety check detail which was conducted in Union County.
Nighttime Enforcement Patrols
The nighttime enforcement patrols allow the Illinois State Police to focus on preventing, detecting and taking enforcement action in response to impaired driving and occupant restraint violations, especially between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The state police said that the number of unrestrained drivers killed in traffic crashes is significantly higher at nighttime and, when combined with impaired driving, means even more traffic deaths during these critical hours.
Officers will strictly enforce violations, including driving under the influence (DUI), safety belt and child restraint use, speeding, distracted driving and all Illinois Vehicle Code and criminal violations.
Alcohol and drug impairment is a factor in more than 30 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois.
Over half of all fatal crashes in Illinois occur at night.
The state police noted that the nighttime enforcement program allows officers to work even harder at removing dangerous impaired drivers from the road and making sure everyone is buckled up.
Roadside Safety Check
The roadside safety check detail was conducted in Union County from late night on Aug. 31 to early morning on Sept. 1. The detail was conducted by District 22 officers at U.S. Route 51 and Wing Hill Road.
The following results were reported:
DUI citations, one. Other alcohol/drug citations, three. Occupant restraint offenses, two. Registration offenses, four. Driver’s license offenses, 13. Insurance violations, three. Total citations/arrests, 16.
The state police report that alcohol and drug impairment is a factor in more than 30 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois.
Throughout the United States, nearly 10,000 people die each year due to alcohol-impaired driving.
The goal of roadside safety checks is to keep roads safe by taking dangerous DUI offenders off the road.
Both of the details are funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.