Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 9 Commander, Captain Nathan Douglas, announced the State Police will be conducting Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) in Clay, Jasper, Marion and Hamilton counties and Nighttime Enforcement (NITE) patrols in Clay, Marion, White and Fayette counties during November.
OREPs allow troopers to focus on safety belt and child safety seat laws, and NITE patrols focus on preventing, detecting, and taking enforcement action in response to impaired driving and occupant restraint violations especially between the hours of 9:00 pm and 6:00 am.
The number of unrestrained drivers killed in traffic crashes is significantly higher at nighttime and combined with impaired driving means even more traffic deaths during these critical hours. Officers working the enforcement patrols will be watchful for motorists who show signs of impaired driving, improper seatbelt and child restraint usage, speeding, distracted driving, and other Illinois Vehicle Code violations. Alcohol and drug impairment are estimated to be a factor in more than 47% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. Over half of all fatal crashes in Illinois occur at night.
These programs allow officers to work even harder at removing dangerous impaired drivers from the road and making sure everyone is buckled up. These projects are funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.
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