Oak Lawn Police Receive Federal Grant For Special Traffic Enforcement

OAK LAWN, IL — The Oak Lawn Police Department received a federal FY 2025 Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program grant. The grant, funded by federal highway safety funds through the Illinois Department of Transportation, will enable police to continue conducting enhanced traffic safety enforcement, particularly during the holidays.

“We are grateful for this grant, which allows us to increase our enforcement of impaired driving, seat belt, speeding and other traffic safety laws under the banners of ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,’ ‘Click It or Ticket,’ and ‘Drive High, Get a DUI,’” said Sgt. Nick Kumke, of the Oak Lawn Police Department. “Our priority is ensuring the safety of everyone who uses our roadways by holding those who break the law accountable.”

The STEP grant year, which runs from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025, enables Oak Lawn Police Department to conduct additional enforcement operations, particularly during high-risk periods. These operations will focus on dangerous behaviors that contribute to crashes, such as speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, failure to yield, disobeying traffic signals and seat belt violations.

Key enforcement campaigns like “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” will be emphasized during some of the deadliest times of the year, such as the Memorial and Labor Day holidays, New Year’s Eve and Super Bowl Sunday. The grant allows OLPD to raise awareness and promote safer driving habits. These high-visibility enforcement efforts are part of the police department’s ongoing mission to keep Illinois roads safe for all.