EFFINGHAM, Ill. - Patrols in Effingham, Cumberland, Marion and Fayette counties are the subject of this report from Illinois State Police District 12 in Effingham.
District 12 Commander Captain Cory Ristvedt has announced the results of Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) held in Effingham and Cumberland counties during September.
These OREPs provided extra patrol coverage for the ISP so officers could focus on saving lives by making sure all vehicle occupants were buckled up.
Most motorists know safety belts save lives, 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 focusing on those who ignore the law.
And then there are the Nighttime Enforcement (NITE) patrols in Fayette and Marion counties during September.
These NITE patrols allowed the ISP to focus on preventing, detecting, and taking enforcement action in response to impaired driving and occupant restraint violations especially between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
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 NITE program allows officers to work even harder at removing dangerous impaired drivers from the road and making sure everyone is buckled up.
These projects are funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.