DISTRICT 19 - Illinois State Police (ISP) District 19 Commander, Captain Cory Ristvedt, has announced special patrols for the month of May coming to various counties in D19.
Presented here are the types of patrols and the counties who should watch out for them next month.
sTEP
Wayne, White, Saline and Gallatin
ISP will conduct Special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (sTEP) in Wayne, White, Saline, and Gallatin Counties during May. These sTEPs are planned during daytime and nighttime hours and will allow the ISP to focus on these fatal four violations, which contribute the greatest to traffic crashes and fatalities:
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI);
- Safety Belt and Child Restraint use;
- Speeding; and,
- Distracted Driving.
The ISP will increase our daytime and nighttime patrols to ensure the safety of vehicle travelers through enforcement of all traffic safety laws. Impaired driving is a factor in more than 30 percent of traffic deaths in Illinois. Likewise, speeding is a factor in nearly 35 percent of fatal crashes; and, nearly 50 percent of vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were not be buckled up.
RSCs
Saline County
ISP will conduct a Roadside Safety Check (RSC) in Saline County during May. The use of RSCs combine a strong sense of public awareness and enforcement in order to save lives of the motoring public.
The ISP has zero tolerance for impaired driving in Illinois. Officers working the detail will be watchful for drivers who are operating vehicles in an unsafe manner, driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, transporting open alcoholic beverages, and most importantly:
- 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, and throughout the U.S., nearly 10,000 people die each year due to alcohol-impaired driving. RSCs are designed to keep our roads safe by taking dangerous DUI offenders off the road.
OREP
Wabash, Edwards, White, Hamilton
ISP will conduct Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) in Wabash, Edwards, White, and Hamilton Counties during May. OREPs allow the ISP to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws. Illinois law requires all vehicle passengers (front and back) to buckle up! Safety belts are still one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles, 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.