Police step up seat-belt enforcement through Memorial Day

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - It's "border to border" seat-belt enforcement for Illinois police agencies through Memorial Day.

Officials from the Departments of Transportation and State Police joined more than 200 local law enforcement agencies in Monday's announcement. The "Border to Border" campaign will feature stepped-up enforcement of mandatory seat-belt use with increased patrols and enforcement zones through next week's holiday.

Transportation Secretary Omer Osman says Illinois traffic fatalities have decreased this year. But he says safety-belt use is "your best line of defense in a crash."

State Police Director Brendan Kelly says that "Border to Border" was organized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as part of the long-running "Click It or Ticket" campaign.

Officials say summer travel will be safer by buckling up, slowing down, driving sober and putting the cellphone down.