Special patrols underway
Illinois State Police District 22 is conducting special details during November in Union County.
Plans for the details were announced by Capt. Michael Alvey, who is the commander of the district.
Nighttime enforcement patrols and occupant restraint enforcement patrols are planned in the county.
Nighttime Enforcement Patrols
Nighttime enforcement patrols allow the 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 noted that the number of unrestrained drivers killed in traffic crashes is significantly higher at nighttime and, combined with impaired driving, means even more traffic deaths during these hours.
During the patrols, Alvey said officers will strictly enforce violations which include 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.
Alvey stated that the nighttime enforcement patrols allow “officers to work even harder at removing dangerous impaired drivers from the road and making sure everyone is buckled up.”
Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols
Occupant restraint enforcement patrols allow the state police to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws.
Illinois law requires all vehicle passengers, in the front and the back seats of a vehicle, to be buckled up.
The state police noted that safety belts are still one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles, and are estimated to save nearly 14,000 lives each year.
Half of vehicle occupants killed in a traffic crash were not properly buckled up.
“The objective of this program is to increase occupant restraint compliance through education, child seat inspections and enforcement,” Alvey stated.
The details are funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.