The Knox County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from Rockport and Camden Police departments, conducted a Safety Checkpoint on Route 17 at the pull-out near Chickawaukie Lake on Friday night, August 5. Of the more than 500 vehicles checked that evening, the majority was in compliance, according to Chief Deputy Tim Carroll.

The safety checkpoints are the result of the federal Bureau of Highway Safety effort to make drivers more aware of safety regulations that govern vehicle inspection laws and driver operations. 

The Sheriff’s Office tries to do a few every year, said Sgt. Pat Polky.

He said the office formerly conducted sobriety checks only, but has expanded its goal now to better educate the public about road safety, in general. This reflects a national effort, he said.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting safety checkpoints over the next several months around the county, looking for vehicles with broken lights, expired registrations, and vehicle impairments.

For example, said Polky, necklaces and placards, or other obstructions, that dangle from the rear view mirror are considered unsafe for drivers.

Deputies will also be checking to ensure that children’s car seats are properly installed.

The intent is to keep traffic flowing, he said.

“We will use this more as an education piece,” said Polky.

However, if there are outstanding traffic violations or other infractions, the deputies will act accordingly, he said.

On Aug. 11, Chief Deputy Carroll said in the release that the Sheriff’s Office: “We did find various violations that were addressed with warnings, defects, and summonses or on two found to be Operating Under the Influence (OUI), the people were arrested. The following stats were the violations addressed:”

OWL – 1 ( Operating without a license)

OAS - 1 (Operating After License Suspended)

Ill. transportation of liquor by a Juvenile - 1

Poss. of Marijuana - 3

Seat belt - 1

Expired Registration - 1

Failure to produce Certificate of Insurance - 1

Expired Inspection Sticker - 9