State Police to conduct Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols

Staff Report

PECATONICA, Ill. — Illinois State Police (ISP) District 16 Commander, Captain James E. Alexander, announced that District 16 troopers will conduct Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) in Winnebago County during the month of January.

OREP allows the ISP to target an area with saturation patrols that focus on traffic violations and related compliance with safety belt and child safety seat laws.

Safety belts are one of the most effective safety devices in vehicles today, estimated to save more than 16,000 lives each year. The objective of this program is to increase compliance of occupant restraint laws through education, child seat inspections and enforcement. Greater awareness, acceptance and use of occupant protection equipment will save many lives.

This project is funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.

From the Jan. 2-8, 2013, issue