Police Plan Fourth of July Crackdown

The Lemont Police Department will be cracking down on impaired motorists and seat belt violators over the Fourth of July holiday.

The department will join the Illinois State Police and nearly 300 local police and sheriff's departments in an intensified enforcement effort that began June 17 and continues through July 4.

The initiative focuses mainly on late-night hours, as statistics show a most traffic deaths 0ccur at night and involve drunken drivers or unbuckled motorists, according to Lemont police.

“Nighttime is the most critical time for motor vehicle fatalities," Lemont Police Chief Kevin Shaughnessy said in a news release. "Law enforcement is dedicated to the cause and will be stepping up our late-night enforcement efforts, making sure impaired drivers are off the road and motorists are buckled up."

The crackdown is funded by more than $1 million in federal highway safety funds through the Illinois Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Safety. Enforcement runs alongside the "You Drink and Drive. You Lose." and "Click It or Ticket" campaighns.

“If you drive at night, you are in our sight,” Shaughnessy said.

According to the release, 10 people died in motor vehicle crashes in Illinois over the July 4 weekend last year. Seven of those fatalities involved a drunken driver.

Additionally, 780 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes over the July 4 weekend last year, the release said.

Shaughnessy urges residents to designate a sober driver if they are going to drink, and to not let friends or family members drive impaired.

Here are some other safety tips provided by the Lemont Police Department:

• Plan ahead. Designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;

• If you are impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely;

• Promptly report impaired drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement by pulling over and dialing 911;

• Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears their safety belt. It is your best defense against an impaired driver.

For more information, contact the Lemont Police Department at 630-257-2229.