State Police boost patrols during Memorial Day weekend

Posted on May 25, 2018

By RFD Radio/WFMB

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police will be watching drivers closely on highways this weekend.

A boarder to boarder campaign will be underway to station troopers up and down interstates 55, 57 and 80. ISP Director Leo Schmitz said police are working with neighboring states to line the interstates.

“Going all the way from Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, (to) Illinois,” Schmitz said. “Every 25 miles there will be a trooper from Mississippi through Illinois. I will tell, we stood it up a little more in Illinois, instead of every 25 we are doing it every 20.”

So far this year, about 320 people have been killed on Illinois roadways. And last year 10 people were killed over the Memorial Day weekend.

Police will be targeting speeders, those not wearing a seatbelt and drunk or distracted drivers.

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