Police Issue 50 Citations in Holiday Driving Crackdown

Oak Park police were on the hunt and cracking down on drivers who neglected to wear their seat belt or who chose to drive intoxicated during the holiday season.

Police issued 50 citations for traffic offenses, including 27 citations for drivers who didn't buckle up, according to numbers released by the department. In addition to catching unbelted drivers, police also reported making five significant arrests, including one motorist who was charged with illegal transportation of alcohol.

Of the 27 citations issued for failing to wear a seat belt, police reported that 15 of those were issued during nighttime hours. Extra attention was given to the crackdown from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Police said the highest number of drivers who drive drunk, or without seat belts, occurs during those hours.

The crackdown was part of a statewide initiative by law enforcement departments to lower vehicle fatalities due to people driving drunk or without seat belts from Dec. 17-31.