Tri-State Tollway Seat Belt Patrols Planned for Sept.

COOK COUNTY, IL —Illinois State Police officers will conduct Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols this month on the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) in Cook and Lake counties, state police officials announced. The goal of the OREP program is to increase statewide safety belt usage by vigorously enforcing all Illinois occupant restraint laws.

Illinois Department of Transportation statistics for 2017 revealed that 263 people were killed while not wearing their seat belts.

Illinois State Police Troopers will take a zero-tolerance approach toward all unrestrained occupants of motor vehicle during these patrols. Illinois law requires all occupants of a motor vehicle to be properly restrained regardless of where they are sitting, according to a news release.

Children under the age of 8 are required to be properly secured in a child restraint system at all times. Children under the age of 2 must be secured in a rear-facing, properly secured child restraint system unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches long.

Children who weigh 40 or more pounds may be secured in the rear seat of a vehicle with a seat belt, according to a news release.

The OREP project is funded through the IDOT Division of Traffic Safety.