Crime & Safety

Crystal Lake Police Increasing Patrols for the Holidays

Crystal Lake Police plan heightened seat belt enforcement efforts for the upcoming two weeks.

The Crystal Lake Police Department is reminding residents to fasten their seat belts over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period, or run the risk of receiving a ticket.

The department will be conducting additional seatbelt enforcement efforts beginning Dec. 20 and ending Jan. 5, 2014, according to Cmdr. Dan Dziewior. 

As of Jan. 1, 2012, everyone, no matter the age or seating position, is required to wear a safety belt.

And effective Jan. 1, 2014, the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code will prohibit motorists from using any cell phone or electronic communication device use while driving (except in hands-free mode), Dziewior said. 

During this holiday enforcement period, officers from the Crystal Lake Police Department will be joining other police departments in the statewide effort to aggressively enforce vehicle code violations related to occupant protection, speeding, cell phone use and impaired motorists.

Motorists are encouraged to ensure all occupants of vehicles are properly buckled up at all times.

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Seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Dziewior said. 

Research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent, Dziewior said. 

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For more information about the Click It or Ticket and the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over statewide campaigns, please visit www.buckleupillinois.org.

 


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