ILLINOIS STATE POLICE TO CONDUCT SAFETY CHECKS IN SOUTHERN AREAS

Illinois State Police will conduct "Roadside Safety Checks" at various locations throughout District 22 in Southern Illinois this month.

The checks will be targeting areas throughout the lower seven counties which make up District 22, headquartered near the intersection Interstate 57 and the Ullin exchange.

Included in area are Alexander, Pulaski, Union and Massac counties.

Roving and stationary patrols will be targeting a number of violations, including driving under the influence (DUI), underage drinking and other alcohol related violations, speeding, improper lane usage and seat-belt violations.

"This is one of a number of various details that District 22 officer conduct throughout the month, in addition to their regular duties," said Trooper Dale Poole, safety education officer for District 22.

The safety checks are funded through a grant provided by the United States Department of Transportation/National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations. The grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation/Division of Transportation.

In some instances, the checkpoints are announced , but in some others, they are established without warning.

Captain Phillip Sylvester, commander of the Illinois State Police's District 22, who announced the January checks, urged motorists to ensure that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up and to follow the posted speed limits.

Only one safety check was conducted in December, at the Interstate 24/U.S. Highway 45 intersection in Massac County at Metropolis.

The five-hour check resulted in 47 arrests, ranging from 16 vehicle code violations, lack of seat belt use in 11 instances and nine alcohol related incident, with no Dues.

The bulk of 61 warnings were issued for equipment offense (27). Sixteen warnings were issued for driver's license offenses, and 15 for registration violations.