EFFINGHAM, Ill.—The Illinois State Police (ISP) District 12, will conduct Nighttime Enforcement Patrols (NITE) in Effingham County as well as special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (sTEP) during November, according to Commander, Captain Kelly Hodge.
The ISP has zero tolerance for impaired drivers. Therefore, officers working NITE patrols 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, Driving Under the Influence (DUI), and are not properly buckled up.
Alcohol and drug impairment is a factor in nearly 40 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. These nighttime patrols are designed to keep our roads safe by taking dangerous DUI offenders off the road and ensuring all vehicle occupants are buckled up. This project is funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.
They will also conduct special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (sTEP) during the month of November in Clark, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, and Marion Counties.
Officers will concentrate on speeding, failure to use occupant restraints, and other driving offenses as part of their enforcement
efforts. The sTEP program involves a combination of increased enforcement and public information designed to raise public awareness and compliance to all traffic laws. Speeding is a contributing factor in 35 percent of all fatal crashes nationwide. In Illinois, speed-related crashes account for 30 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Safety Belt Enforcement Zones may also be used during the sTEP program. Officers will enforce the primary safety belt law to ensure
drivers and all of their passengers are buckled up. Every hour someone dies in America simply because they are not wearing their safety belt. Statistics show that half of all people killed in traffic crashes are not properly buckled up. You can save your life by driving safely and simply buckling up. This project is funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.