Contributed photo
Contributed photo
During a recent three-day period that included Halloween, the St. Charles Police Department directed a heightened-safety effort through the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket traffic-safety programs.
The effort was funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation as part of a statewide initiative to reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths.
During the campaign, the police force assigned extra patrols to check for DUI and seat-belt use, setting up roadside-safety checks on Halloween night. One checkpoint was set up on North Second Street (Illinois Route 31), just north of West Main Street (Illinois Route 64). This location was chosen because 29 accidents have occurred over the past year in that area. A dozen of those wrecks involved either an injury or required a tow truck, and one resulted in a fatality. Statistics show that since 2009, 119 people have died on Halloween nights in Illinois due to drunk driving.
During the period of enhanced patrols, St. Charles Police made two DUI arrests and one drug-related arrest. The checkpoints also resulted in the issuance of one seat-belt citation, two citations for suspended or revoked licenses, two citations for uninsured motorists, seven citations for speeding and 10 warning tickets.
The St. Charles Police Department asks all drivers to follow all safety rules and drive very carefully – not just during periods of enhanced patrols – but every day.
Alerts Sign-up