Palatine police wrote hundreds of tickets in crackdown

Palatine police recently concluded a 17-day traffic safety campaign, and authorities say the strategy was effective.

Sending out dedicated traffic enforcement saturation patrols, as police call them, netted nine driving under the influence arrests, 150 tickets for seat belt violations, 53 speeding tickets and 95 tickets for infractions ranging from child safety restraint violations to having no insurance.

The campaign culminated just before the Fourth of July when police conducted roadside safety checkpoints near Rand and Dundee roads and Algonquin and Roselle roads.

The Palatine Police Department was able to increase staffing around the holiday due to three Illinois Department of Transportation traffic safety grants.

Police said the priority was to get intoxicated motorists off the roads, reduce speeding and enforce seat belt and child restraint use.