The Park Ridge Police Department is committed to traffic safety!  We work hard to make sure our roadways are safe.  In an effort to reduce crashes and injuries, we make enforcement of speed, seatbelt and impaired driving violations a priority.   

The Traffic Section consists of four officers who are dedicated to traffic safety and enforcement.  These officers utilize various resources, including an unmarked squad car and police motorcycle, to perform their enforcement activities.

In addition to normal traffic and DUI enforcement, selective enforcement of specific traffic problem areas is one of the primary duties of the Traffic Section.  Citizen reports of potential problem areas, such as speeding and stop sign violations, are followed up with officer contact and a survey of the location.  If the survey reveals that selective enforcement is necessary, the Traffic Section works with the Patrol Division officers to enforce violations in these areas.  The Patrol Division then enforces in the area in addition to the traffic officers.  Not all surveys result in selective enforcement, however.  It is important to have residents alert the Traffic Section to locations that may deserve special attention.

School officials have also been helpful in notifying the Traffic Section when drivers are passing stopped school buses and other traffic related matters near schools.  Additionally, the Public Works Department advises the Traffic Section if major streets are going to be closed for extended periods so that appropriate detours may be established.

Overweight truck enforcement is another primary duty of the Traffic Section.  The Illinois Vehicle Code governs the amount of weight large trucks can carry over various roadways.  Violations of these laws can cause severe damage to our roads.  One overweight truck can cause as much damage as nine hundred cars traveling the same route.  The Public Works Service Center has a vehicle scale that is used to weigh trucks that are suspected of being overweight.

The Traffic Section speaks at local driving schools and other community meetings and events.  Officers appear at safety fairs and similar events to allow kids to see police cars and the motorcycle up close while they learn about traffic safety.

Periodically, roadside safety checks are conducted with the assistance of the Illinois State Police.  Drivers and vehicles are checked for equipment, license and insurance violations as well as seat belt compliance and DUI.

The City of Park Ridge Traffic Safety Committee meets every two months, or as needed, to review citywide traffic safety issues.  The city engineer works with the Fire Department and the Traffic Section representatives on these issues.  Since the police department enforces the laws but does not actually control where stop signs are placed or what the speed limits are, it is important to communicate with the engineers about issues such as stop sign placement and setting speed limits.

For additional information please call the Traffic Section at 847-318-5220.

Drive Safely.

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Traffic Equipment 

In 2007, the police department was awarded a federal grant to be used specifically for the purchase of traffic safety equipment. The onsite 350 Radar Speed Trailer was purchased, and added as a second unit to the fleet. The speed trailer can be placed where needed as an electronic solution to monitoring traffic patterns.

There is a definite benefit to having a second speed trailer as requests from citizens, asking for deployment in their neighborhoods, have significantly increased and selective enforcement efforts could be supplemented by the use of a second unit.

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Police Target Nighttime Drivers During 2007 Memorial Day “Click it or Ticket” Safety Belt Campaign

IDOT, ISP and local Police plan largest ever after dark enforcement effort as part of bid to reach 90% safety belt compliance statewide

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Illinois State Police (ISP) are teaming up with more than 300 local police agencies to mount the largest ever nighttime safety belt enforcement effort in Illinois. During the Memorial Day “Click it or Ticket” mobilization, motorists can expect more than 3,600 safety belt enforcement zones statewide, with almost 700 enforcement zones planned for after dark, the time when surveys show more drivers fail to buckle up.

“Memorial Day marks the beginning of the busy summer holiday travel season and reminds travelers that the single most important way to protect yourself and your family is by buckling up,” said IDOT Acting Secretary Milton Sees. “Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the primary safety belt law in 2003 and since then we have seen a 12 percent increase in belt usage while at the same time a sharp reduction in fatalities. But we know that safety belt use drops off at night, and that’s why it is so important that police departments across the state are stepping up their nighttime enforcement activities.”

IDOT, ISP and local police partners will be kicking off the campaign with news conferences and enforcement zones at 8 p.m. tonight in Springfield, Alton, Marion and Quad Cities. (See below for locations.)

Studies have shown high-risk drivers buckle up less at night. In 2005, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 60 percent of all motor vehicle occupants killed during the night were unbelted.

The statewide Memorial Day enforcement effort comes as IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety (DTS) and its traffic safety partners across the state are aiming to reach 90 percent safety belt compliance statewide and build on the safest year on Illinois roads in more than 80 years. Traffic fatalities fell below 1,300 for the first time since 1924, with more than 100 fewer people killed on Illinois highways during 2006 than 2005.

Preliminary data shows there were 1,254 traffic deaths on Illinois roadways in 2006, the lowest total since 1,065 deaths recorded in 1924. Since 2003, traffic fatalities have dropped from 1,454 to 1,355 in 2004 and 1,363 in 2005. During that same timeframe safety belt usage has increased each year from 76 percent usage in 2003 to 88 percent usage in 2006.

“Our officers will be placing special emphasis on both residential and rural roadways,” ISP Director Larry Trent said. “Whether running an errand during the day or driving at night on an expressway or interstate, motorists are at equal risk of being involved in a traffic crash. No matter the destination, always wear your safety belt. We won’t compromise on our efforts to save lives.”

Illinois is striving to reach 90 percent safety belt compliance - during a statewide annual survey conducted in June - through high visibility enforcement, community education, and paid media. IDOT is calling on communities to join their Click it or Ticket campaign to reach 90 percent safety belt compliance statewide.

Gov. Blagojevich has made improving traffic safety a priority for his administration and has actively supported legislation to reduce fatalities on our state’s highways. Some of the measures put into effect by Governor Blagojevich include:

 

• A law that bans teen drivers from carrying more than one passenger for the first six months after receiving their license;
   

• A law that bans cell phone use by drivers under 18;
   

• Requiring drivers under 18 to make sure that their teen passengers are buckled properly in the front and back seats;
   

• The primary safety belt enforcement law that allows officers to stop and ticket drivers for not wearing a safety belt; and
  

• A law that raised the age at which children must be in a restraint system or booster seat from 4 to 8. 

For more information about traffic safety programs in Illinois, and to get involved in the effort to reach 90 percent safety belt compliance in Illinois, go to www.buckleupillinois.org

 

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  WE CARE ABOUT YOUR SAFETY!  

In recent years, Park Ridge has seen its share of unfortunate incidents related to the same tracks that provide many people a safe and efficient passage to work everyday. Unfortunately lives have been lost, and injuries have occurred due to improper crossing, or illegal crossing by pedestrians at unsanctioned crossings. Throughout recent years the Park Ridge Police have made numerous efforts to promote rail safety awareness, and have distributed awareness information and warnings to pedestrians and motorists. During the upcoming months, the Park Ridge Police will be increasing its efforts to promote rail safety and will be vigorously enforcing laws pertaining to crossings for both pedestrians and motor vehicles. The Park Ridge Police Department in cooperation with Operation Lifesaver, received part of a nationwide grant for an increase in enforcement and awareness. Officers assigned to rail grade crossings will work with commuters to improve the overall safety at the various crossings through the City of Park Ridge. If you would like more information on laws regarding rail crossings, or would like an office or group presentation please contact Park Ridge Police Community Relations at 847-318-5233. Information about rail crossing safety may be obtained at the Operation Lifesaver website: www.oli.org/.

PEDESTRIAN DUTIES

11-1011 (b) No Pedestrian shall pass through, around, over or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing or bridge while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed. Mandatory $250.00 fine or 25 hours of community service for a first violation, and a $500.00 fine for a second or subsequent violation.

OBEDIENCE TO SIGNAL INDICATING APPROACH OF TRAIN

11-1201 (b) No person shall drive any vehicle through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed. Mandatory $250.00 fine for a first violation, and a $500.00 fine for all subsequent violations.

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The Park Ridge Police Department maintains the following traffic safety programs in an effort to make our roadways safer to travel:

ROAD (Reduction of Aggressive Driving) Campaign

The goal of the program is to utilize an unmarked squad to more effectively and efficiently manage aggressive driving on our roadways. Officers in an unmarked squad will target violations that typically lead to aggressive driving complaints coming in to our 911 center. Examples include following too closely and failure to signal. Two of our four traffic officers will take part in this campaign. One officer is assigned to day shift and one officer is assigned to the evening shift. Finally, the department plans on continuing the information campaign through press releases and memos sent to the court to advise them of our efforts.

 

 means STOP!

According to recent studies conducted by our Engineering department, only 23% of drivers in Park Ridge come to a complete stop at intersections controlled by stop signs. The Police Department, in conjunction with Public Works, will initiate the Stop Means Stop program. The program consists of a vigorous media campaign accompanied by affixing additional signs that read “Means Stop” to stop signs at targeted intersections. Officers will concentrate enforcement efforts at these locations. The signs would also be useful in addressing resident’s complaints about stop sign violations. Upon receipt of the complaint, traffic section personnel would request these signs to be temporarily affixed at that intersection.

 

Top 10 Crash Intersections

The final program the Traffic Section initiated in conjunction with Engineering is a concentration of traffic enforcement efforts aimed at high accident rate intersections. Data compiled by Engineering determined the top ten accident rate intersections for the previous year. For the year 2007 the following intersections were rated the highest:

1. Dempster and Luther Ln

2. Greenwood and Oakton

3. Greenwood and Touhy

4. Dee and Touhy

5. Dee and Devon

6. Dee and Talcott 

7. Dempster and Potter  

8. Northwest Hwy and Greenwood

9. Cumberland and Devon 

10. Northwest Hwy and Oakton

Officers more frequently focus selective enforcement efforts on those areas in an effort to reduce the frequency of crashes. The Park Ridge Police Department is committed to traffic safety and we encourage all motorists to buckle up and drive safely.

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IMPORTANT TRAFFIC LAWS

Effective January 1, 2004 in Illinois.  The Child Passenger Protection Act requires anyone who transports children in non-commercial vehicles to do so in the following manner:

Children under the age of 8 must be secured in an appropriate child restraint system.  These include:

• Infant seats (rear facing, usually with built in carry handles, safe until the child exceeds the maximum weight listed on the seat - usually 20 pounds).

• Convertible seats (which start out rear facing for infants and then convert to forward facing for toddlers when they reach the seat's listed weight - at least 20 pounds - AND the child is at least one year old).  It is recommended that the child stay in the rear facing position as long as they meet the seat's criteria. 

• Booster seats, used with a vehicle's shoulder belt system, when a child outgrows the forward facing convertible seat.

The state law prior to 2004 was less effective, in that it applied only to children under the age of 4.  The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration recommends the use of a booster seat for children until age 8 or a height of 4'9" or they have outgrown the weight limitations of the seat.  The Illinois legislation brings the law closer to the NHTSA recommendation.

Please remember that a shoulder belt must be across a child's chest.  It should not be across the face or upper neck and should never be placed behind a child.  The booster seat simply "boosts" the child up to allow a vehicle's shoulder belt to work as designed.

Children weighing more than 40 pounds may be transported in the back seat of a motor vehicle while wearing only a lap belt if the back seat IS NOT equipped with a shoulder system.

Also, children between the ages of 8 and 16 must be secured in a properly adjusted safety belt in any seat in a vehicle.  According to the Graduated Driver Licensing System, if a driver is under the age of 18, the restraint requirements extend to all passengers under the age of 18, rather than 16.  Also, for the first six months of a Graduated Driver's License or until the driver reaches the age of 18, whichever occurs sooner, the person may not drive with more than one person in the vehicle who is under the age of 20 unless they are siblings, children, step-siblings or step-children of the driver.

Please ensure your safety and the safety of your loved ones and "buckle up".  It does save lives and reduces the likelihood of injuries.

• To clarify the Illinois Vehicle Code, when a bus has its stop arm extended and its signal lights flashing, all drivers in either direction must stop.  The exceptions to the rule are if the highway has four or more lanes (opposite direction traffic  need not stop) or when on a controlled access highway (on/off ramps, center medians or barricades) where the bus is stopped in a loading zone.  A citation for this violation requires a mandatory court appearance.    Most tickets for speeding, stop sign violations, etc., do not require a court appearance.  Upon conviction in court, the mandatory fine is $150.00 and the Secretary of State is required to suspend the violator's driver's license for three months.

• As a reminder, drivers must turn on their headlights whenever their windshield wipers are on.

• Safety belts must be worn at all times.  A new traffic law allows police officers to make traffic stops for that violation alone.  

Additional Laws to Remember

DO NOT:

• drive on a sidewalk except when it is part of a driveway
• back up on any shoulder or roadway of any controlled access highway.  Backing is prohibited unless it is done safely and does not interfere with other vehicles.
• open doors on the side of a vehicle on which traffic is moving unless it can be done safely.  The door may remain open only long enough to load and unload passengers.
• wear a headset while driving.  Headsets are defined as any device, other than a hearing aid, that allows the wearer to hear or receive electronic communications.  Motorcycle, motor-driven cycle and moped operators may use intercom helmets that permit drivers and/or passengers to speak to one another.
• drive onto a railroad crossing, enter an intersection or drive within a marked crosswalk unless there is enough space to allow passage of other vehicles, pedestrians or railroad trains.
• tow one vehicle with another except by a drawbar.  In most cases, the distance between the two cars should not exceed 15 feet.  A towed vehicle also should be coupled to the towing vehicle with 2 chains or cables.
• remove a wrecked or damaged vehicle from the roadway without removing all glass and other debris.
• overload a vehicle with passengers or freight so the driver's view is obstructed.  No more than three persons should ride in the front seat of a vehicle.
• ride in a house trailer while it is being moved on a street or highway.
• operate or permit to be operated any sound system (radio, tape player or disc player) at a volume that can be heard 75 feet or more from a vehicle being driven.  

 

Reminder on Motorized Scooters

The City of Park Ridge has an ordinance (Sec. 13-2-12 Operation Without a License), which states that “A person who does not have a valid driver’s license may not operate any motorized vehicle of any kind or nature, including motor driven scooters, on any public property within the City of Park Ridge.  Public property shall include, but not be limited to, roadways, alleys, parkways, sidewalks and streets (including private streets)….”

Only licensed drivers are allowed to ride motorized scooters in town.  Any person found guilty of violating this ordinance may be fined between $100 and $500.  The Park Ridge Police Department also strongly recommends using helmets and other protective gear when utilizing motorized scooters.