IDOT Grant Programs
Holiday "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over," and "Click It or Ticket" Campaigns
With the holiday season just around the corner, the Harwood Heights Police Department has joined forces with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the “Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaigns to ensure that festive gatherings don’t end in tragedy. From December 12 through January 4, 2025 law enforcement agencies across Illinois will adopt a zero-tolerance policy for impaired driving to keep our roads safe. “This season let’s make safety our shared priority,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez. “If you plan to drink or use impairing substances, plan ahead for a sober ride home. Driving impaired isn’t just dangerous-it's unacceptable. We’ll be out in full force, and no excuses will be accepted.” Holiday "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over," and "Click It or Ticket" Campaigns Press Release
Thanksgiving Holiday "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Driver Sober Campaigns Results
From November 21 to December 2, 2025 the Harwood Heights Police Department participated in the statewide “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization to reduce crashes and save lives. Enforcement focused on seat belt use, speeding, distraction, and alcohol and drug impaired driving, including cannabis. During the Thanksgiving Campaign, Harwood Heights officers worked an additional 39 hours of patrol taking the following enforcement actions: conducted 61 traffic stops; cited 13 seat belt violators; cited 5 distracted drivers; issued 19 other various traffic violation citations; and made 1 traffic arrest. “These results reflect our commitment to a safe community,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez. “Impaired is impaired, whether you use alcohol, cannabis or other drugs. Combine that with not wearing a seat belt, and the consequences can be deadly. Please buckle up and plan a sober ride every time.” Thanksgiving Holiday "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Driver Sober Campaigns Results
Thanksgiving Holiday "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Driver Sober Campaigns
This Thanksgiving, the Harwood Heights Police Department is joining the Illinois State Police and local partners to keep holiday travel safe. Our “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaigns run from November 21 to December 2, 2025. Officers will be looking for seat-belt violations, speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs, including cannabis. “Thanksgiving brings more vehicles, longer trips and more festivities,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez. “Seat belts remain one of the simplest and most effective ways to save your life in a crash. We’re asking every driver and passenger to buckle up, every trip, every time — and to make a plan for a sober ride before the celebrations begin. If you drink alcohol or use cannabis, don’t drive.” Thanksgiving Holiday "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Campaigns Press Release
Halloween Enforcement “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaigns Results
The Harwood Heights Police Department conducted a successful Halloween enforcement campaign resulting in 39 citations for seat belt and child safety seat violations. During the Halloween Campaign, Harwood Heights officers worked an additional 65 hours of patrol taking the following enforcement actions: conducted 99 traffic stops; cited 37 seat belt violators; cited 2 child safety seat violators; cited 2 speed violators; cited 10 distracted drivers; and issued 19 other various traffic violation citations. Law enforcement agencies across Illinois participated in this statewide effort to save lives by removing impaired drivers from the roads and ensuring more drivers and passengers were properly buckled up. The fall enforcement campaign, which ran from Oct. 24th through Nov. 3rd was part of the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" and "Click It or Ticket" initiatives. Halloween Enforcement “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaigns Results Press Release
Halloween Enforcement “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Campaigns
The Harwood Heights Police Department today announced it is stepping up traffic enforcement efforts for the Halloween “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over “campaigns that will run October 24-November 3, 2025. “We want all of our Harwood Heights trick-or-treaters to be safe this Halloween,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez. “If you’re planning on treating yourself at a Halloween party, please be sure to make plans for a ride home. Planning ahead will help keep you and others safe.” Never get behind the wheel impaired. It is illegal in Illinois to drive impaired by alcohol, marijuana, or any other impairing substance. DUIs are not restricted to alcohol-related offenses. If you drive high, you’ll get a DUI.
Halloween Enforcement “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Press Release
Police Department Awarded IDOT Traffic Enforcement Grant
The Harwood Heights Police Department has been awarded federal funding for the 2026 Federal Fiscal Year to conduct additional traffic safety efforts through the Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant. The STEP Grant Program focuses on high-visibility enforcement and strategies aimed at saving lives and preventing injuries by reducing traffic crashes. “We’re pleased to receive this grant for the fourth year in a row to help step up our traffic safety efforts with the goal of reducing traffic crashes, educating drivers of dangerous driving behaviors, and saving lives,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez. “Our mission is to educate the public on risks associated with dangerous driving behaviors as well as stopping, citing, and arresting those who choose to violate traffic laws through proactive patrols." The 2026 STEP Grant year runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The Harwood Heights Police Department will also conduct additional enforcement to supplement mandatory, and optional campaign enforcement dates scheduled during some of the deadliest travel times of the year. The additional enforcement efforts will focus on the leading contributory causes of crashes which include speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, failure to yield and disobeying traffic control devices and signals, as well as occupant restraint violations. Police Department Awarded IDOT Traffic Enforcement Grant Press Release
Labor Day Statewide Traffic Safety Campaigns Results
The Harwood Heights Police Department announced it issued 60 seat belt citations during the Labor Day “Click It or Ticket” enforcement period. During the Labor Day Campaign, Harwood Heights officers worked an additional 72 hours of patrol taking the following enforcement actions: conducted 107 traffic stops; cited 60 seat belt violators: cited 8 distracted drivers; issued 27 other various traffic violation citations; made 2 traffic arrests; and recovered 1 stolen vehicle. “Through the Labor Day traffic safety campaign, we helped make our roads safer,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez. The Harwood Heights Police Department collaborated with other law enforcement agencies and highway safety partners across the state for the Illinois Labor Day “Click It or Ticket” campaign. Labor Day Statewide Traffic Safety Campaigns Results Press Release
Police Ready for Back-to-School with School Zone Safety Blitz
As Union Ridge School students head back to school on Thursday, August 21, 2025, the Harwood Heights Police Department is launching a focused traffic safety blitz to ensure students’ routes to schools are safe. More officers will be out and around school zones, concentrating on motorists who violate traffic laws designed to protect children during their commutes to and from school. During this heightened enforcement period, officers will be particularly attentive to speeding in school zones, unlawful use of handheld cell phones, texting while driving, and violations of seat belt and child passenger safety laws. Our efforts are to increase awareness and encourage safer driving behaviors. In partnership with local school crossing guards and school administrators, the department will maintain open lines of communication throughout the school year to promptly address any traffic safety concerns. Police Ready for Back-to-School with School Zone Safety Blitz Press Release
Labor Day Statewide Traffic Safety Campaigns
The Harwood Heights Police Department is proud to be one of over 200 law enforcement agencies across Illinois participating in the statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get a DUI” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns this Labor Day. From August 15, 2025 through the early morning hours of September 2, officers will be out in force, focused on stopping impaired driving, enforcing seat belt laws and reducing other dangerous driving behaviors. Officers will be enforcing seat belt laws as part of the “Click It or Ticket” initiative as well as targeting distracted drivers. Buckling up is the most effective way to prevent serious injury or death in a crash. Everyone in the vehicle — front seat or back — should be properly buckled, every trip. “We want our community to enjoy the holiday weekend safely and responsibly,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez. “Plan ahead, use a designated driver, buckle up, and never get behind the wheel impaired. These decisions save lives.” Labor Day Statewide Traffic Safety Campaigns Press Release
Illinois Speed Awareness Day Campaign
The Harwood Heights Police Department is partnering with the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) with the support of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and more than 300 state, county and local law enforcement agencies for this year’s ILACP “Illinois Speed Awareness Day” on July 23, 2025. Law enforcement agencies across the state will be stepping up traffic safety efforts to reduce speeding. Motorists can expect to see increased patrols looking for speeding, as well as other traffic violations. The Illinois Speed Awareness Day campaign has a two-fold approach: to combine effective community outreach to roadway users on the importance of obeying the speed limit, along with an increased zero-tolerance enforcement effort. "Speeding is a choice that puts everyone at risk,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez. “It reduces the driver’s ability to steer safely around other vehicles, increases stopping distance, and can lead to more severe injuries if you are involved in a crash. We urge drivers to slow down and make the safe choice.” Illinois Speed Awareness Day Press Release
Memorial Day "Click It or Ticket" Campaign Results
The Harwood Heights Police Department issued 37 citations during the Memorial Day “Click It or Ticket” enforcement period. “Through the Memorial Day enforcement campaign, we helped make Illinois roads safer and spread the word that seat belts save lives,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez. During the Memorial Day Campaign, Harwood Heights officers worked an additional 30 hours of patrol taking the following enforcement actions: conducted 43 traffic stops; made 1 traffic arrest; cited 22 seat belt violators; cited 6 distracted drivers; and issued 11 other various traffic violation citations. Memorial Day "Click It or Ticket" Campaign Results
Memorial Day "Click It or Ticket" Campaign
The Harwood Heights Police Department is reminding drivers to buckle up as part of the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign. This high-visibility seat belt enforcement initiative runs from May 16 to May 27, 2025 coinciding with the Memorial Day holiday. Illinois enacted its seat belt law 40 years ago on July 1, 1985, becoming the third state to require seat belt use for drivers and front-seat passengers aged eight and older. Children under eight were required to be secured in appropriate child safety seats. In July 2003, Illinois strengthened the law to allow officers to pull over and ticket drivers solely for failing to buckle up – a change that led to a significant increase in compliance. Since the seat belt law’s initial introduction and subsequent upgrade more than two decades ago, seat belt usage has surged from 15.9% in 1985 to 92.4% in 2024. This dramatic improvement underscores the law’s effectiveness in promoting compliance and enhancing roadway safety. Memorial Day "Click It Or Ticket" Campaign Press Release
Distracted Driving Awareness Month Campaign - ‘U Drive. U Text. U Pay.’ Campaign Results
The Harwood Heights Police Department conducted traffic enforcement during the Distracted Driving Campaign throughout the entire month of April, 2025. During the Distracted Driving Campaign, Harwood Heights officers worked an additional 255 hours of patrol taking the following enforcement actions: conducted 332 traffic stops; made 4 traffic arrests; cited 195 distracted drivers; cited 13 seat belt drivers; cited 13 speed violators; and issued 49 other various traffic violation citations. “Driver distraction is a persistent issue in Harwood Heights that often has life-altering consequences,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez. “Issuing a citation is a proven way to get motorists to pay attention or pay the price. Distracted Driving Awareness Month may be over, but we will continue our efforts to stop motorists from engaging in this deadly behavior.” Distracted Driving Awareness Month Campaign ‘U Drive. U Text. U Pay.’ Campaign Results
Distracted Driving Awareness Month Campaign - ‘U Drive. U Text. U Pay.’
The Harwood Heights Police Department is partnering with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police, and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies to step up enforcement efforts across the state in recognition of Distracted
Driving Awareness Month. Throughout April, motorists can expect increased patrols looking for texting and driving, as well as other traffic violations. “Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle crashes on our roads today,” said
Sergeant Nick Ramirez. “During Distracted Driving Awareness Month, law enforcement will boost enforcement efforts, stopping anyone we see texting and driving. We do this to save lives.” If you need to text, pull over to a safe location - or if you have a passenger, consider appointing a “designated texter.” Whatever the solution, don’t text and drive. ‘U Drive. U Text. U Pay.’ Distracted Driving Awareness Month Campaign Press Release
St. Patrick’s Day Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign Results
The Harwood Heights Police Department conducted traffic enforcement during the St. Patrick’s Day campaign March 7-18, 2025 reminding motorists to buckle up and drive sober. During the St. Patrick’s Day Campaign, Harwood Heights officers worked an additional 86 hours of patrol taking the following enforcement actions: conducted 127 traffic stops; made 3 traffic arrests; cited 58 seat belt violators; cited 10 distracted drivers; and issued 30 other various traffic violation citations. “We strongly enforce traffic laws for one reason, to save lives,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez. St. Patrick’s Day Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign Results
St. Patrick’s Day Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign
To remind motorists of the dangers of impaired driving and to help keep our streets safe, the Harwood Heights Police Department is teaming up with the Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation for a stepped-up "St. Patrick's Day Impaired Driving Enforcement" campaign. “With St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Monday this year, we expect increased celebrations throughout the weekend prior,” said Sergeant Nick Ramirez." “We urge everyone to celebrate responsibly. Please plan ahead for a sober ride home before you leave the house — your safety and the safety of others depends on it.” In addition to looking for alcohol and cannabis-impaired drivers, the Harwood Heights Police Department will be stepping up seat belt enforcement, particularly at night when seat belt usage rates are lowest. Speeding, distracted driving, and all traffic laws will be strictly enforced. Whether you’re attending a party, hosting friends, or going out to a bar, keep safety at the forefront of your day and night. St. Patrick’s Day Impaired Driving Enforcement Campaign Press Release