Press Release Date:
September 26, 2003
|| Archived October 29, 2003
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois State Police (ISP) announced today enforcement results of its participation in the Click It or Ticket campaign that ended on September 7. During the two-week enforcement period, Troopers issued 10,554 safety belt and 475 child restraint citations. These numbers are a result of safety belt enforcement zone details conducted throughout the state, as well as officers working regular patrol assignments.
“There is nothing more important than the safety of our families, and together we have to do all that we can to protect them,” said Governor Rod Blagojevich. “We know that safety belts and child safety seats save lives, so we’re going to work aggressively to make sure people buckle-up.”
On July 3, Governor Blagojevich signed legislation that made failure to wear a safety belt a primary offense. During the Memorial Day Click it or Ticket campaign conducted from May 19 to June 1, 2003 – prior to the new safety belt law – Troopers issued 4,655 safety belt and 379 child restraint citations.
"Working to saves lives through partnerships with the Illinois Department of Transportation and local and county law enforcement agencies to safeguard the public by decreasing traffic fatalities is the goal of the Illinois State Police,” said ISP Director Larry G. Trent. "Troopers will continue to conduct seat belt enforcement zones and strictly enforce this new law which allows officers to stop and issue citations to drivers and front seat passengers who fail to buckle-up."
Every hour someone dies in America simply because they did not buckle-up, and failure to use safety restraint devices contribute to more fatalities than any other single traffic safety-related behavior. The next Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign will begin November 24 and continue through December 8.
