Illinois State Police out in force over Memorial Day

Drivers shouldn’t be surprised when they see an Illinois State Trooper during the holiday weekend.

AAA says nearly 37 million people will drive somewhere this Memorial Day weekend, and Illinois is one of several states preparing to greet them in force.

The Illinois State Police says drivers on I-55, I-57, and I-80 will see a troopers every 20 miles over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

State Police Director Leo Schmitz said that the saturation patrol is part of a national effort aimed at cracking down on speeding, drunk driving and driving while texting.

“It’s going all the way from Mississippi, through Louisiana and Missouri, and into Illinois,” Schmitz said. “Every 25 miles there will be a trooper from Mississippi to Illinois. And I’ll tell you we stood up, and are doing a little better in Illinois.”

Schmitz said troopers will be out on Illinois’ other interstates and highways as well, but not as heavy as on the big three.

“We’re sending the right message,” Schmitz said “Everybody should know that we are out there thick. We’re trying to save lives.”

So far this year, the Illinois Department of Transportation says 382 people have died in car crashes on the state’s roads. That’s seven fewer than at this point last year.

— From Illinois News Network