Illinois State Police Plan Nighttime Patrols In October

From the Illinois Department of Transportation:

October 11 2019

Illinois State Police Announce Nighttime Special Enforcement Patrols in Cook, DeKalb, Kane and Lake Counties

Downers Grove, IL – Illinois State Police District 15 Commander Dominic Chiappini announced today that officers will conduct Nighttime Enforcement Patrols (NITE) during the month of October on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in Cook and Kane counties, on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) in DeKalb and Kane counties and on the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) in Cook and Lake counties.

Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) statistics for 2017 revealed that nearly one-third of all fatal motor vehicle crashes involved alcohol and 263 people were killed while not wearing their seatbelts. The NITE program focuses enforcement efforts on drivers who are impaired and occupants of motor vehicles who are not wearing their seatbelts. These patrols will be conducted during nighttime hours when impaired driving crashes causing death or serious injury occur at higher rates.

Illinois State Police Troopers will have a zero tolerance approach to impaired and unrestrained drivers during these patrols. Drivers who are determined to be driving under the influence (DUI) will be arrested, their vehicle may be impounded, and they may face suspension of their driving privileges for up to one year for a first offense. Drivers who are convicted of DUI may face fines of up to $2,500 and possible imprisonment for up to one year for first convictions. Penalties for subsequent convictions of DUI include possible imprisonment for up to 12 years and fines of up to $25,000 if crashes cause great bodily harm or permanent disfigurement to other persons.

The NITE project is funded through the IDOT Division of Traffic Safety.

This press release was produced by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The views expressed here are the author’s own.