Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

September 3, 2010

Roadside checks planned for Labor Day weekend

By TESA CULLI tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The Mt. Vernon Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting roadside safety/compliance checks during the Labor Day weekend.

“We will be conducting the checks during the holiday weekend in an effort to raise awareness and promote safety,” Mendenall said.

Both departments have stepped up efforts to hold the compliance and safety checks during the last few years, part of a partnership with the Mission Possible Coalition. During the roadside checks for the Memorial Day holiday weekend this year, police issued four citations for driving under the influence of alcohol, six for no insurance, four for no seatbelt; three for illegal transportation of alcohol, three for possession of less than 2.5 grams of cannabis, two for possession of drug paraphernalia and one for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Local law enforcement won’t be the only ones watching the highways, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Over 10,000 law enforcement agencies are participating in the nationwide crackdown with nearly 2,400 involved from the Midwest,” NHTSA information states. “Law enforcement will be especially vigilant during high risk nighttime hours.”

According to the NHTSA, the country witnessed a decline in the number of impaired driving fatalities from 2007 to 2008, however, drunk driving is still one of America’s deadliest crimes. The latest information from the administration states 32 percent of the fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involved a motorist with a blood alcohol content of .08 or above, with an average of one fatality every 45 minutes.

“In 2008 alone, nearly 12,000 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit,” information from NHTSA states. “The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers in fatal crashes is young people age 21 to 24.”

The Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Traffic Safety will join with local law enforcement, partnering with more than 300 agencies in conducting nearly 200 roadside safety checks, impaired driving patrols and nighttime safety belt patrols.

“It is inappropriate to drink and drive regardless of the time of day,” Acting ISP Director Jonathon Monken stated. “Statistics tells us your chances of being involved in an alcohol related crash or fatal crash increases dramatically at night. Therefore, in addition to efforts put forth during the holiday travel period, the Illinois State Police will focus our efforts on DUI and seat belt enforcement during night time details throughout the Labor Day weekend.”

Text Only
Local