Highland Park Police will join the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Illinois State Police and other local law enforcement agencies across the state for the 2017 Border to Border Click It or Ticket campaign on Monday, May 22, 2017. Grant funded officers will be out in force during day and evening hours, cracking down on seat belt law violators and impaired drivers. Motorists caught driving unbuckled will be ticketed and those caught driving impaired by drugs or alcohol will be arrested. In addition, officers will be enforcing speeding, cell phone use while driving, stop sign and failure to yield to pedestrian violations within the City.
Illinois seat belt law requires all front and back seat occupants to buckle up. During statewide observational surveys conducted by IDOT in 2015, the overall usage rate for rear seat occupants was 84.9 percent, versus 95.2 percent for drivers and front seat passengers. Of the 274 fatalities in 2015 that occurred during night time hours, 42 percent were unbuckled. “We want motorists and passengers to buckle up this Memorial Day weekend and throughout the summer – it could be the difference between life and death,” said Deputy Chief Tim Wilinski.
Officers enforce seat belt laws year-round, both day and night. Be sure to buckle up and never drive impaired - you may save your life, or the life of a loved one. Remember, in Illinois, children are required to be in a car seat or booster seat until at least age 8 and all children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat. For additional information, please contact the Police Department at 847.432.7730 or cityhpil.com
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