CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 7 will conduct Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols (OREP) in Champaign County during April, focusing on ensuring compliance with safety belt and child safety seat laws. Illinois law mandates that all vehicle passengers, both front and back, must be properly restrained.
Safety belts remain one of the most effective safety devices, estimated to save over 14,000 lives annually. Despite their effectiveness, nearly 50% of vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were not wearing seatbelts. The goal of the OREP program is to increase compliance through education, child safety seat inspections, and strict enforcement of safety restraint laws.
ISP officers will be targeting areas where non-compliance is common, with a focus on ensuring the safety of all vehicle occupants. This initiative is aimed at reducing traffic fatalities and promoting safer driving practices across the county.