Lake Co. Police Increase Enforcement for Upcoming Memorial Day Holiday

The following press release was submitted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will join the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police (ISP) and hundreds of local law enforcement agencies across the state for the 2015 Illinois Click It or Ticket campaign which kicks off May 11.

During the campaign, officers will be cracking down both day and night on motorists who fail to wear their seat belt in the front and back seat.

In Illinois, as of January 1, 2012, all drivers and passengers must wear seat belts in all seating positions in the car, not just the front seat. In 2014 during statewide observational surveys conducted by IDOT, the overall usage rate for rear seat occupants was 84.0 percent versus 94.1 percent for drivers and front seat passengers.

“Memorial Day weekend kicks off the busy summer driving season, and we want to ensure that everyone arrives at their destination safe and sound,” said Sheriff Mark C Curran Jr. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone in the front seat or back seat, who is not wearing a seat belt.”

In 2013 back seat passengers in Illinois accounted for 48 fatalities and over 7,500 injuries. Out of those 48 fatalities, 24 of them were not wearing their seat belt.

“Law enforcement will be cracking down on seat belt violators around the clock. Local motorists should be prepared to buckle up. If law enforcement observes you on any Lake County roadway, at any time, without a seatbelt you can expect to get a ticket – not a warning. No excuses and no exceptions,” said Sheriff Curran

Provisional numbers show that during the 2014 Memorial Day weekend there were twelve fatalities on Illinois roadways. Three of those fatalities were alcohol-related. Remember – wearing your seat belt is your best defense against an impaired driver. While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign runs from May 11 through May 25, officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round. Buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same. You will save the cost of a ticket and may save a life.

For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign, please visit www.buckleupillinois.org.

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.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will have extra manpower on the road for DUI and seat belt patrols from May 14, 2015- May 25, 2015.