Area police step up patrols during holiday weekend
By SARAH SUTSCHEK - ssutschek@nwherald.com
Ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend, several local police departments are teaming up with the Illinois State Police on Friday for a traffic enforcement blitz along Route 14.
The targeted area of “Lights on US-14” will stretch from the McHenry County line on the west to the end of Route 14 in Barrington on the east. Officers particularly will be enforcing the “fatal five” traffic violations: speeding, driving under the influence, not wearing a seat belt, following too closely, and improper lane use.
Participating agencies include Harvard, Woodstock, Crystal Lake, Cary and Fox River Grove, as well as the McHenry County sheriff’s department.
An increased presence of deputies will be out on the roads during the holiday weekend, Undersheriff Gene Lowery said.
“Enforcement goes hand-in-hand with prevention, and when we’re visible, when people know we’re out there, it seems to have an impact on their driving and their attentiveness on the road,” Lowery said.
Despite significantly lower gas prices than at the same time last year, AAA projects a slight decrease in travel during the Fourth of July. The organization cites uncertainty about the strength of the economy, especially rising unemployment and sagging personal incomes.
In Illinois, about 1.7 million people are expected to travel, with about 1.5 million traveling by motor vehicle and 60,000 expected to fly.
To help ease traffic congestion, the Illinois Department of Transportation is limiting lane closures from 3 p.m. today through Sunday whenever possible, but some projects might continue.
For example, Interstate 90/94 from Hubbard’s Cave to I-290 might have ramp closures at Jackson Boulevard, Adams Street, and Monroe on the eastbound side of the Kennedy Expressway. Westbound, the Monroe exit ramp will be permanently closed, and traffic to the Loop will be detoured.
