St. Charles, Campton Hills Police Ready for Memorial Day

St. Charles and Campton Hills police are reminding motorists not to drink and drive, and are reminding drivers and passengers as well they can be ticketed if they drive without using their seat belts.

Releases issued by both departments stated that the enforcement program, which began May 10 and runs through May 27, is part of the the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program.

In their releases, both the St. Charles Police Department and the Campton Hills Police Department said the goal of the program is to reduce the incidence of vehicle crashes and the resulting injuries and fatalities, through increased, high-visibility enforcement focused on seat belts, child safety restraints, impaired driving, speeding and pedestrian safety.

The two departments’ efforts are being done in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program call “Click It or Ticket/Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

“As we kick off the busy summer driving season it’s important for everyone to buckle up every trip, every time, day or night — no excuses,” said Campton Hills Police Chief Dan Hoffman “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing a seat belt.”

During Illinois’ 2012 Memorial Day holiday period, six vehicle occupants died in vehicle crashes, with three of those deaths involving a drinking driver. During that same period, more than 600 people were injured. In St. Charles officers made five drunken-driving arrests and issues 50 citations for other traffic violations during the 2012 Memorial Day holiday period.

Experts point out that fastening a seat belt takes only a moment. Not wearing one could cost you your life in an accident, but it definitely will cost you a ticket if you are caught.

“Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists still are not buckling up, especially at night when the risk of getting in a crash is even greater,” said Hoffman “Our goal is to save more lives, so the Campton Hills Police Department will be out enforcing seat belt laws around the clock.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in vehicle crashes.

Research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent, the releases state.

The St. Charles Police Department and the Campton Hills Police Department want all drivers to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and all vehicle occupants to “Click It or Ticket” all day and all night.

For more information about the Click It or Ticket and the Drive Sober Get Pulled Over programs, please visit www.buckleupillinois.org.

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