Captain Nathan Douglas, Commander of Illinois State Police Troop 9, has announced that the State Police will conduct Nighttime Enforcement (NITE) patrols in Clay, Effingham, and Wayne Counties, as well as Alcohol Countermeasure Enforcement (ACE) patrols in Clay, Effingham, and Marion Counties this month.
The NITE patrols are designed to prevent, detect, and enforce laws related to impaired driving and seatbelt violations. Meanwhile, the ACE patrols focus on addressing issues related to impaired driving and the illegal transportation or consumption of alcohol or drugs.
Statistics show that the number of unrestrained drivers killed in traffic accidents is significantly higher at night, and the combination of this factor with impaired driving leads to an increased risk of fatalities during these critical hours. In Illinois, alcohol and drug impairment is involved in over 47% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes, with more than half occurring at night.
The NITE program empowers officers to intensify efforts in removing dangerous impaired drivers from the roads while ensuring that all occupants are properly restrained. Similarly, the ACE program enhances the ability of officers to target and remove DUI offenders. These initiatives are funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
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