Illinois: State Police Special Patrols in Remembrance of Fallen Trooper James Sauter

Illinois State Police have announced that ISP districts throughout the state will enforce road safety with a special enforcement memorial operation dedicated to fallen Trooper James Sauter. The trooper was killed in the line of duty on March 28, 2013, when his ISP squad was struck by a truck tractor semi-trailer in the Chicago area.

This will be the third consecutive year of this safety operation honoring Trooper Sauter's memory. ISP Troopers throughout the state are committed to working Operation Sauter and will be aggressively patrolling Illinois roadways for 24 consecutive hours on March 28 through March 29th in remembrance of their fallen comrade.

The focus of this operation will be commercial motor vehicle enforcement. ISP Troopers will be checking the commercial driver's logbooks to ensure compliance. Long-haul truck drivers are currently restricted to 70 hours of driving per week and are required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to maintain a logbook documenting the number hours they have driven. Within the last three years, two ISP Troopers have been killed in the line of duty and another seriously injured. All three Troopers were struck by commercial motor vehicles.

ISP Troopers will also be strictly enforcing the ISP's Fatal Four mission: Speeding, Seatbelts, DUI and Distracted Driving, to ensure the safety of the motoring public in preparation for the busy spring travel season. Motorists are also reminded they are required by law to reduce speed and change lanes when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle.