Effingham, IL – Illinois State Police District 12 announced enforcement figures for the recent special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (sTEP) wave conducted on Friday, May 26th, 2017 in Marion County. Authorities issued 65 total citations or arrests and 13 total written warnings including 37 speeding citations, 4 speeding written warnings, 13 occupant restraint citations, and 6 drug or alcohol related arrests. There were no DUI arrests issued during this patrol. Slowing down and observing the speed limit not only saves lives, but also saves on gas. Additionally, safety belts are proven to be the most effective safety devices in vehicles today and are estimated to save over 12,000 lives each year. The sTEP program involves a combination of increased enforcement and community education designed to raise public awareness and compliance with all traffic laws. A special emphasis was placed on speeding, failure to wear a safety belt, DUI, and other alcohol-related offenses in areas that experience the highest level of traffic problems. This project was funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.