PECATONICA — Illinois State Police (ISP) District 16 Commander, Acting Captain Joseph Blanchette, announced the results of a variety of enforcement measures for the month of November 2021.
Special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (STEP)
In Winnebago and Stephenson during November, STEPs allowed the ISP to provide increased enforcement for impaired driving, occupant restraint, speeding and distracted driving violations during the National “Click It or Ticket” campaign.
There were 13 occupant restraint violations, 64 speeding citations and warnings with 12 distracted driving citations and warnings.
There was a total of 124 citations with 31 total written warnings issues.
Distracted Driving Enforcement Program
In Winnebago Co. during November, this program provided extra patrol coverage for ISP officers to focus on saving lives and reducing serious crashes by enforcing distracted driving laws.
There were 14 handheld phone/device citations and three texting while driving citations with a total of 17 distracted driving citations and one distracted driving written warning.
The total of all citations was 59 with a total of 19 for all written warnings.
Nighttime Enforcement (NITE) patrols
In Winnebago Co. during November, 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 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
There were three driving under the influence citations and three other alcohol/drug citations. There were two occupant restraint offenses and six registration offenses. There were 15 driver’s license offenses and five insurance violations.
There was a total of 76 citations with 10 arrests and 51 written warnings.
Alcohol and drug impairment is a factor in more than 30% 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.
Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement (ACE) patrols
In Winnebago Co. during November, ACE patrols allowed the ISP to focus on preventing, detecting, and taking enforcement action in response to violations associated with impaired driving and illegal transportation or consumption of alcohol or drugs.
There was one driving under the influence citation with no other alcohol/drug citations. There were eight occupant restraint offenses and six registration offense with 10 driver’s license offenses. There were eight insurance violations.
There was a total of 60 citations with four arrests and a total of 55 written warnings.
Alcohol and drug impairment is a factor in more than 30% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. There is one alcohol-related traffic fatality every 53 minutes in the United States. The ACE program allows officers to work even harder at removing dangerous DUI offenders from the road.
Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP)
Held in Stephenson and Winnebago counties during November, OREPs provided extra patrol coverage for the ISP so officers could focus on saving lives by making sure all vehicle occupants were buckled up.
There were 34 safety belt citations with six child restraint citations. A total of 108 citations and 29 written warnings were issued.
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. Lives can be saved if people simply “buckle up”.