As part of an increased effort to crack down on seat belt violations, the Evanston Police Department issued 36 seat belt citations last Friday, according to an EPD press release.
Police issued the citations at multiple traffic checkpoints set up as part of the “Click It or Ticket” campaign. Evanston is just one of a vast network of cities nationwide participating in the campaign, which aims to increase seat belt use.
The checkpoint stops also yielded 21 cell phone use violations, one child safety seat violation, four insurance violations and one violation for no driver’s license.
Police Chief Richard Eddington said the traffic checkpoints were placed at several locations in the city chosen by the department.
“We set up a traffic funnel where we’ll cut traffic down to one lane or set it up so we can see into the cars as we go by,” Eddington said. “We’ll stop every third or fourth car and check if we see them talking on their cell phone.”
EPD Cmdr. Tom Guenther said he thinks the large number of citations is a result of people not fully understanding how critical seat belts are for their own safety.
“Using the shoulder harness belt keeps your face off the steering wheel or the dashboard, which really reduces the number of traumatic injuries,” Eddington said. “It’s just silly not to use a seat belt when you’re in a car.”
According to the press release, EPD will continue its heightened focus on seat belt violations through May 31. The department plans two more days of stepped-up enforcement during that period.
“That’s the kind of enforcement action that increases the public safety,” Guenther said. “People should be wearing their seat belts.”
