Click it or Ticket Ramping Up In Springfield
By Dan Noll on June 6th, 2016 in Articles, General
As reported by Fox 55 27, the Springfield Police Department is joining local law enforcement agencies across the US for this year’s Click it or Ticket campaign. During this time, local officers will be ramping up enforcement efforts against what they refer to as the “fatal four”—DUI, distracted driving, seat belt violations and speeding. This year, the campaign in Illinois will begin on May 16th and end on May 30th.
What is Click it or Ticket?
According to Buckle Up Illinois, the goal of this campaign is to increase public awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence, not using your seat belt, distracted driving and speeding in an effort to curb those behaviors. In Illinois, two campaigns are held each year, one during the Thanksgiving holiday period and one around Memorial Day.
The U.S. Department of Transportation says that since the first seat belt initiative was launched back in 1985, seat belt use has gone up nationally, but it’s still lower at night than it is during the daytime. The chances of being involved in a fatal accident are actually higher at night than during the day, so the agencies involved in Click it or Ticket plan to use the campaign to encourage drivers to buckle up and avoid other potentially dangerous behaviors such as DUI. This enhanced enforcement and inspection period is meant to act as a deterrent to other drivers.
During the 2015 Thanksgiving Click it or Ticket campaign in Springfield, police officers issued 25 seat belt citations and made 14 arrests for DUI, according to WAND 17. They also issued several citations for other traffic infractions, including 67 uninsured motorist tickets, 69 citations for speeding and 22 tickets for cell phone use while driving.
What to do if you’re charged with DUI
In Illinois, even just a first-time DUI conviction can result in a jail sentence of up to a year and a maximum fine of $2,500. A person convicted of DUI in the state will also lose his or her driver’s license for one year. A second offense adds a license suspension period of five years. You can get a restricted license, but that comes with rules and you will have to pay hundreds of dollars in fees. Additionally, just one DUI conviction will remain on your record, which can follow you for the rest of your life.
With such serious consequences on the line, it’s important to seek the help of seasoned DUI attorneys in Springfield Illinois if you’re charged with driving under the influence as soon as possible. There are potential defenses for a DUI case, including challenging sobriety tests or proving medical conditions that could be mistaken for signs of intoxication, so it’s vital that you explore all of your options before your case is closed.