PECATONICA, Ill. — Illinois State Police District 16 Commander, Lieutenant Joseph Blanchette, announced District 16 enforcement figures and activity for the month of November 2020.
Illinois State Police District 16 Troopers issued 950 total citations and 616 written warnings during the month of November. Speed violations accounted for 480 citations. Ninety-eight citations were issued for occupant restraint violations and 84 enforcement documents were issued for distracted driving violations.
Troopers investigated 41 traffic crashes and assisted 90 motorists. Sixty-nine commercial motor vehicle inspections were completed with six drivers and/or vehicles being placed out of service.
Troopers made 12 arrests for driving under the influence and 10 criminal arrests. Seven enforcement documents were issued for Scott’s Law violations. Thirteen school safety checks were performed by troopers. District 16, which encompasses Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, and Boone Counties, investigated one traffic fatality in November.
The Nighttime Enforcement (NITE) patrols in Winnebago County during November allowed the Illinois State Police to focus on preventing, detecting and taking enforcement action in response to impaired driving and occupant restraint violations, especially between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.
There were three registration offenses and 13 driver’s license offenses. There were three insurance violations. There was a total of seven citations, 49 arrests and 54 written warnings for the month.
Alcohol and drug impairment are factors 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.
The Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement (ACE) patrols 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 is one alcohol-related traffic fatality every 53 minutes in the United States.
They had one registration offense, four driver’s license offenses with eight insurance violations. There was a total of 54 citations with one arrest and 42 written warnings.
The Special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (sTEP) provide increased enforcement for impaired driving, occupant restraint, speeding and distracted driving violations during the National “Click It or Ticket” campaign. Driving the posted speed limit, sober, not distracted, and buckled up will save your life and the lives of many others.
For the month of November, there was 21 occupant restraint violations, 14 distracted driving citations and warnings with 175 speeding citations and warnings. There were three driving under the influence and drug/alcohol-related citations. There was a total of 235 citations with 61 written warnings.
Distracted Driving Enforcement Program patrols focus on saving lives and reducing serious crashes by enforcing distracted driving laws. There were 25 hand-held phone citations with 10 texting while driving citations and three distracted driving written warnings. There was a total of 79 citations and 32 written warnings for the month.
Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) provide extra patrol coverage to focus on saving lives by making sure all vehicle occupants are 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. For the month, there was 61 safety belt citations with three child restraint citations. There was a total of 129 citations and 41 written warnings.