Hammond police join statewide seatbelt, impaired driving blitz

HAMMOND | Hammond police announced they will be joining a statewide focus on seatbelt compliance and impaired driving beginning today.

Part of Operation Safe Family Travel, officers will conduct roving seatbelt and DUI patrols and hold sobriety checkpoints this weekend and next, said Lt. Patrick Vicari, Hammond Police Traffic Division commander.

Motorists stopped at the checkpoints should be delayed only long enough to produce their driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance, Vicari said, and drivers who show no signs of impairment and have no other issues can expect only minimal inconvenience at the checkpoints.

Overtime pay for the operation is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute's Traffic Safety Division.