State Police District 22 releases

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[November traffic arrest figures

Special Traffic Enforce-ment Patrol, a traffic enforcement and community education program funded by a U.S. Department of Transportation grant, was recently implemented by the Illinois State Police.

The grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety.

Tuesday, District 22 released figures for STEP patrols in the area during the month of November. The district reported 235 arrests and 32 written warnings.

There were 203 citations written for speeding, eight for seat belt violations and five for driving without a license. Of the 32 warnings, 15 were for speeding, and the others for various infractions.

Troopers also made three arrests during STEP patrols on criminal charges.

The STEP program seeks to obtain better enforcement of all traffic laws and to raise public awareness of them. It places special emphasis on speeding, failure to use safety restraints, and alcohol-related offenses, including driving under the influence, in the highest level of traffic problem areas.