Buckle Up, Tinley Park! Police to Step Up Patrols This Month

Tinley Park Police Department will join hundreds of other departments, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police (ISP) in enforcing seatbelt laws during the “Click It or Ticket” campaign, which kicks off May 9.

In Illinois, all drivers and passengers must wear seatbelts in all seating positions in the car—not just the front seat. During statewide observational surveys conducted by IDOT in 2013, the overall usage rate for rear seat occupants was 77.4 percent versus 93.7 percent for drivers and front seat passengers, IDOT officials said.

“Memorial Day weekend kicks off the busy summer driving season, and we want to ensure that everyone arrives at their destination safe and sound,” Tinley Park Police Department Sgt. Chris Butler said. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone, front or back seat, who is not wearing a seatbelt.”

In 2012, back seat passengers in Illinois accounted for 46 fatalities and more than 5,000 injuries, police said. Out of those 46 fatalities, 30 of them were not wearing their seatbelt.

“Seatbelts save thousands of lives every year, but far too many motorists still are not buckling up, especially in the back seat,” Butler said. “Our goal is to save more lives, so Tinley Park Police officers will be out enforcing seatbelt laws around the clock, looking for those who are not buckled up, in all seating positions. If you are caught not wearing your seatbelt, you will be ticketed.”

Provisional numbers show that during the 2013 Memorial Day weekend there were three fatalities and almost 600 injuries on Illinois roadways. Two of those fatalities were alcohol-related.

“Remember – wearing your seatbelt is your best defense against an impaired driver,” Butler said.

While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign runs from May 9 to 26, officers are out enforcing seatbelt laws year-round.

“Buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same,” Butler said. “You will save the cost of a ticket and may save a life.

For more information about the Click It or Ticket campaign, visit www.buckleupillinois.org.