La Grange Plans Crackdown On Traffic Violations

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange police are cracking down on speeding and other traffic violations, the police chief said Monday.

This is after months of complaints from residents and trustees at Village Board meetings.

At Monday's meeting, Police Chief Timothy Griffin, who took the helm last month, said his department aims to be more responsive to local concerns about safety on village streets.

New traffic enforcement plans, he said, will dedicate specific times for officers to focus on traffic issues.

One of those plans is for structured enforcement from Friday evenings to Sunday evenings downtown, Griffin said.

"This, coupled with more frequent foot patrols, will provide a much greater police presence in the downtown business district as a whole," the chief said.

The other plan is to address traffic concerns in outlying areas of town, he said. Last week, for instance, the village began dedicating patrols to Brainard Avenue, from 55th Street to Burlington Avenue.

"I am confident that with the use of these traffic enforcement plans with dedicated enforcement time, we will observe greater safety and compliance on the village roadways," Griffin said.

Village President Mark Kuchler noted traffic violations have been a "hot topic" at recent board meetings.

In La Grange, the number of police traffic stops has plunged over the years.