On December 18, 2006, the O'Fallon Police Department began the Second of Five campaigns making up the IMaGE grant process, funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The program hires back off duty police officers to conduct special enforcement, related to speed violations, and occupant restraint.
O'Fallon Police Officers actively enforced Speed and Occupant Restraint Laws during the second campaign of the IDOT grant between December 18, 2006 and January 1, 2007. Officers were HIGHLY VISABLE in targeted problem areas. This campaign was in conjunction with statewide and national campaign. The process of the Speed and Occupant Restraint Enforcement period resulted in the following:
Total number of man hours worked: 157
Total number of vehicles stopped for law violations: 219
Total number of violations observed and cited: 252
Speeding Citations issued: 100 (39.68%)
Occupant Restraint Violations Cited: 85 (37.30%)
Child Restraint Violations Cited: 9 (3.57%)
Other violations cited: 58 (23.01%)
Warrant Arrests: 11 (4.37%)
The second campaign of the IMaGE Grant has once again been viewed as a success. The real success, not being shown in the numbers above, but in the reduced amount of complaints received from the citizens of O’Fallon. The O’Fallon Officers are out on the road and are making the difference. The message is very clear! When you are in O’Fallon, drive in a safe manner, drive the speed limit and buckle up!
The purpose of this campaign is to reduce the injuries and fatalities associated with traffic crashes. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 5 and 24. In 2003 IDOT recorded 1,454 fatalities in Illinois. During 2004, 1,355 persons were killed. A decrease of 99 traffic related fatalities. During the same period Seat belt compliance increased 10% from 75% usage to 85% usage.
The O'Fallon Police Department is dedicated to saving lives through the use of Saturated Patrols, Targeted Enforcement, and Occupant Restraint Enforcement zones, and applauds the Illinois Department of Transportation for funding the grants to make this type of enforcement possible. The ultimate goal being, "to obtain the voluntary compliance of safety belt usage, by every citizen who drives on the streets of O'Fallon."
The following is a list of the upcoming Enforcement Zones sponsored by IDOT:
May 21, 2007 – June 3, 2007 Occupant Restraint Enforcement
June 25, 2007 – July 8, 2007 Speed / DUI Enforcement
August 27, 2007 – September 9, 2007 Speed / DUI Enforcement
Many lives could be saved by changing public attitudes regarding risk taking behaviors such as speeding and the non-use of safety belts and child safety seats. It has been shown that visible enforcement programs, focusing on these violations, offer the greatest potential for changing these behaviors.
Once again, Chief Betten and the O'Fallon Police Department Traffic Safety Unit encourages all drivers to buckle up, drive sober, and drive responsibly!
Click HERE to return to the Traffic Safety Unit main page
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