Items of Interest
Child Passenger Protection Act
(625 ILCS 25/) Child Passenger Protection Act.
(625 ILCS 25/1) (from Ch.95 1/2, par.1101)
Sec. 1. Title and citation. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the “Child Passenger Protection Act”.
(Source: P.A. 83-8.)
Related Links:
(625 ILCS 25/2) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1102)
Sec. 2. Legislative Finding – Purpose. The General Assembly finds that a substantial number of passengers under the age of 8 years riding in motor vehicles, which are most frequently operated by a parent, annually die or sustain serious physical injury as a direct result of not being placed in an appropriate child passenger restraint system. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children of every age from 4 to 14 years old. The General Assembly further finds that the safety of the motoring public is seriously threatened as indicated by the significant number of traffic accidents annually caused, directly or indirectly, by driver distraction or other impairment of driving ability induced by the movement or actions of unrestrained passengers under the age of 8 years.
It is the purpose of this Act to further protect the health, safety and welfare of motor vehicle passengers under the age of 8 years and the motoring public through the proper utilization of approved child restraint systems.
(Source: P.A. 93-100, eff. 1-1-04.)
(625 ILCS 25/3) (from Ch.95 1/2, par.1103)
Sec. 3. Definitions. The terms “highway”, “motor vehicle”, “owner”, “police officer”, “recreational vehicle”, “roadway” and “street” as used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning ascribed to them in The Illinois Vehicle Code, as now or hereafter amended. For the purpose of this Act, “motor vehicle” does not include motorcycles.
(Source: P.A. 83-8.)
(625 ILCS 25/4) (from Ch.95 1/2, par.1104)
Sec. 4. When any person is transporting a child in this State under the age of 8 years in a non-commercial motor vehicle of the first division, any truck or truck tractor that is equipped with seat safety belts, any other motor vehicle of the second division with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 pounds or less, or a recreational vehicle on the roadways, streets or highways of this State, such person shall be responsible for providing for the protection of such child by properly securing him or her in an appropriate child restraint system. The parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of 8 years shall provide a child restraint system to any person who transports his or her child.
For purposes of this Section and Section 4b, “child restraint system” means any device which meets the standards of the United States Department of Transportation designed to restrain, seat or position children, which also includes a booster seat.
A child weighing more than 40 pounds may be transported in the back seat of a motor vehicle while wearing only a lap belt if the back seat of the motor vehicle is not equipped with a combination lap and shoulder belt.
(Source: P.A. 95-254, eff. 1-1-08.)
(625 ILCS 25/4a) (from Ch.95 1/2, par.1104a)
Sec. 4a. Every person, when transporting a child 8 years of age or older but under the age of 16, as provided in Section 4 of this Act, shall be responsible for properly securing that child in seat belts.
(Source: P.A. 92-171, eff. 1-1-02; 93-100, eff. 1-1-04.)
(625 ILCS 25/4b)
Sec. 4b. Children 8 years of age or older but under the age of 19; seat belts. Every person under the age of 18 years, when transporting a child 8 years of age or older but under the age of 19 years, as provided in Section 4 of this Act, shall be responsible for securing that child in a properly adjusted and fastened seat safety belt or an appropriate child restraint system. This Section shall also apply to each driver over the age of 18 years who committed an offense against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles or any violation of Section 6-107 or Section 12-603.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code in the 6 months prior to the driver’s 18th birthday and was subsequently convicted of the violation, until such time as a period of 6 consecutive months has elapsed without an additional violation and subsequent conviction of an offense against traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles or any violation of Section 6-107 or Section 12-603.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
(Source: P.A. 96-607, eff. 8-24-09; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)
(625 ILCS 25/5) (from Ch.95 1/2, par.1105)
Sec. 5. In no event shall a person’s failure to secure a child under 8 years of age in an approved child restraint system constitute contributory negligence or be admissible as evidence in the trial of any civil action.
(Source: P.A. 93-100, eff. 1-1-04.)
(625 ILCS 25/6) (from Ch.95 1/2, par.1106)
Sec. 6. Penalty.
(a) A first violation of this Act is a petty offense punishable by a fine of $75.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this Section, a person charged with a violation of Section 4 of this Act shall not be convicted if the person produces in court satisfactory evidence of possession of an approved child restraint system, as defined under this Act, and proof of completion of an instructional course on the installation of a child restraint system pursuant to Section 6a of this Act. The chief judge of each circuit may designate an officer of the court to review the documentation demonstrating that a person charged with a violation of Section 4 of this Act is in possession of an approved child restraint system and has completed an instructional course.
(c) A second or subsequent violation of this Act is a petty offense punishable by a fine of $200.
(d) Subsection (b) of this Section shall not apply in the case of a second or subsequent violation of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-914, eff. 1-1-11.)
(625 ILCS 25/6a)
Sec. 6a. Child passenger safety instructional course.
(a) As used in this Section, “technician” means a person who has successfully completed the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) standardized National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program and who maintains a current child passenger safety technician or technician instructor certification through the current certifying body for the National Child Passenger Safety Training Program as designated by the NHTSA.
(b) A person in violation of Section 4 of this Act may schedule a child safety instructional course with a technician. The instructional course shall include instruction on the proper installation of a child restraint system. The instructional course shall also include an inspection of the child restraint system. At the time of scheduling, the technician shall notify the person that the instructional course must be completed prior to the mandatory court appearance date on the person’s citation for a violation of Section 4 of this Act.
(c) Prior to beginning the instructional course, the person must present a copy of the citation of a violation of Section 4 of this Act to the technician.
(d) The technician shall be observant for any citations with the notation “no safety seat” in the notes field and discuss with the person, for the purpose of determining the person’s need for a child restraint system, the person’s reasons for not transporting the child in a child restraint system.
(e) Upon completion of the instructional course to the satisfaction of the technician conducting the course, the technician shall issue a letter to the person for presentation in court. The letter shall:
(1) be printed on a form or in a manner required by
the Illinois Department of Transportation;
(2) indicate that the person has voluntarily participated in the instructional course and received instruction from a technician regarding the proper use of the person’s child restraint system; and
(3) include (i) the date the instructional course was completed, (ii) the citation number presented to the technician under this Section, (iii) the county in which the citation was issued, and (iv) the technician’s signature and technician number.
(Source:P.A. 96-914, eff.1-1-11; 97-26, eff.1-1-12.)
(625 ILCS 25/7) (from Ch.95 1/2, par.1107)
Sec. 7. Arrests – Prosecutions. The State Police shall patrol the public highways and make arrests for a violation of this Act. Police officers shall make arrests for violations of this Act occurring upon the highway within the limits of a county, city, village, or unincorporated town or park district.
The State’s Attorney of the county in which the violation of this Act occurs shall prosecute all violations except when the violation occurs within the corporate limits of a municipality, the municipal attorney may prosecute if written permission to do so is obtained from the State’s Attorney.
The provisions of this Act shall not apply to a child passenger with a physical disability of such a nature as to prevent appropriate restraint in a seat, provided that the disability is duly certified by a physician who shall state the nature of the disability, as well as the reason the restraint is inappropriate. No physician shall be liable, and no cause of action may be brought for personal injuries resulting from the exercise of good faith judgment in making certifications under this provision.
(Source: P.A. 88-685, eff. 1-24-95.)
(625 ILCS 25/8) (from Ch.95 1/2, par.1108)
Sec. 8. The “Child Passenger Restraint Act”, enacted by the 82nd General Assembly, is repealed.
(Source: P.A. 83-8.)
(625 ILCS 25/9) (from Ch.95 1/2, par.1109)
Sec. 9. This Act takes effect July 1, 1983.
(Source: P.A. 83-8.)
Citizen Police Academy
The Peoria Police Department will be hosting a Citizens Police Academy beginning the first Wednesday of June 2017. The goals of the Academy were to educate and inform the residents of Peoria, provide a forum for police-community interaction and to foster a partnership through greater understanding of the department’s policies and procedures. The Citizen Police Academy was held at the Peoria Police Department, 600 SW Adams Street from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Some of the topics covered were:
- Uniformed Patrol
- Target Offender Unit
- Traffic Division
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Juvenile Investigations
- K9 Unit
- Dispatch
- Special Response Team
- Crime View Mapping & Emergency Communications Center
- Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team
Citizen Report Forms
From here you may use the Internet to report or bring to our attention incidents that may be looked into by us. Please select the form you would like and it will be directed to the appropriate division for follow-up. If in Peoria you may call 309-673-4521, or fill out and submit this form below, or e-mail us at peoriapd@peoriagov.org.
Please include all required data and as much additional information as you can in the forms below. Incomplete or inaccurate forms will delay processing of these reports.
Please read the following paragraphs:
The information I’ve provided on this form is correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand that providing false information could make me subject to fine, imprisonment, or both under State of Illinois Law. Complaints filed via this web site are processed and may be referred to other law enforcement/regulatory agencies for possible investigation. Any investigation opened on complaints filed on this web site is opened at the discretion of the Peoria Police Department.
Advisory:
You are about to file a complaint with the Peoria Police Department. The confidentiality of the information you provide may be affected depending on state law. As such, we cannot guarantee that your complaint will remain confidential.
Submitting a form indicates that you understand these statements.
Forms:
College Internship Program
Overview
We are pleased to join efforts with area universities and colleges to extend the privilege of internship experiences. Our internships offer students an opportunity to observe and work in all divisions of our Department. Typical experiences include:
Downloadable Files:
- Community Services
- Juvenile Detective
- Adult Detective
- Crime Scene Unit
- Traffic Enforcement
- Patrol (all shifts)
- Neighborhood Police Officer Program
- Target Offender Unit
It is hard to predict specific experiences that interns receive. Internships are typically composed of 80% observation and 20% actual work. Observation experiences for interns have included a wide variety of police work. Some of our interns have joined detectives at autopsies, been with the first patrol units to arrive on major crime scenes, starred in Crime Stoppers reenactments, and have served as hostages in Special Response Team exercises. It is our intention to provide a comprehensive learning experience. However, we cannot guarantee the exact experiences you will receive due to the cyclical nature of police activities and the unpredictability of criminal activity.
An internship with the Peoria Police Department should be very rich and rewarding and relate closely to experiencing the position of an officer’s schedules and duties. We hope to provide students with an opportunity to be actual participants and observers in the day-to-day operations of a law enforcement agency. Interns will have the opportunity to compare and contrast academic teachings to real-life situations.
College Internship Application
Applicants must first contact their university or college internship coordinators or counselors to insure all school requirements have been met and they are eligible for an internship program.
Some schools require that all initial contact with agencies be coordinated through their internship coordinator. The Peoria Police Department encourages students to strictly adhere to their school’s procedures. An official document from your school must accompany the application stating your eligibility and the course this internship will be considered.
Each student will be required to submit an application to the Peoria Police Department. Students should submit their completed applications (signed and dated) to the attention of Intern Coordinator, Peoria Police Department, 600 S.W. Adams Street, Peoria, IL 61602. Students may also include a resume and/or cover letter with their application. To obtain an application packet, call the office of Jennifer Engelbrecht at (309) 494-8250 or download the above application.
Color Guard
The Peoria Police Department Color Guard was formed many years ago for the purpose of providing the display of our flags of the United States of America, Illinois State Flag, City of Peoria Flag, and Peoria Police Department flag. Rifle drill personnel were added in recent years. The Color Guard has provided services for parades, funeral services, memorial services, awards ceremonies, inaugurations, meetings, and sporting events. It is comprised of both male and female officers who volunteer. They devote many hours training to perfect their performance.
Current members of the color guard are as follows:Lt. Ronald “Scott” Cook, Sgt. David Cook, Lt. Michael Eddlemon, Sgt. Mike Falatko, Lt. Willie King, Officer Michael Clark, Officer Javier Grow, Officer Philip Mahan, Officer Michael Ott, Officer Rory Poynter, Sgt. Paul Segroves, Officer Jason Spanhook, Officer Gerald Suelter, Officer Tim Turner, Officer Aaron Watkins, and Officer Tim Wong, Bagpipe Specialist Mr. Kevin Nickerson and Bugler Mr. Ron Allgaier.
Photos
Honor Guard photos at area events:





Contact
Sergeant David Cook handles the administrative aspects of the organization and coordinates all events that the Color Guard participates in. He can be contacted at 309-494-8320.
Lt. Ronald Cook who oversees training for the unit may be contacted at 309-494-8201-2-3-or 4. In the event Sgt. David Cook is not available, please attempt to contact Lt. Ronald Cook.
DUI Enforcement Campaign
Project Description
Through funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety, Peoria City Council budget approval, and Federal Government Grants our DUI Enforcement Campaign continues full force. Funding is also allocated in the operating budget for overtime to combat persons driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Problem Statement
Continuing with the advancements made in the past several years, the Peoria Police Department will maintain enforcement and evaluation of the DUI program. The police department is in the position to properly educate the citizens of Peoria most vulnerable to incidents of drunk driving, strictly enforce a safety campaign to ensure that the streets of Peoria remain safe and free of drunk drivers, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign by statistically analyzing the various factors of drunk driving.
Background
The Peoria Police Department has developed a strong and effective community policing strategy. This DUI campaign works well within the goals of the COPS (Community Policing Strategy) program. Public safety is a priority of COPS and reducing drunk driving is a major component of ensuring a safe community. The Peoria Police Department has conducted numerous educational and prevention programs as part of the grants received in the past years.
Peoria is a thriving, active and expanding community with people and opportunities that make living and working in Peoria very rewarding. The city is the second largest metropolis in the state, with more than 112,000 residents in the city proper and 339,000 in the tri-county area. Peoria is a truly unique mid-western city. It offers residents many amenities of larger cities without the negative aspects of city living. Among the attractions are 12,000 acres of parks and recreation areas. The Illinois River and twin Peoria Lakes place boating, fishing, skiing and other outdoor activities right at its doorstep. Families grow together in Peoria — a city with stable neighborhoods and a commitment to community. Peoria has three large medical centers:Proctor Community Hospital, Methodist Medical Center of Illinois, and Saint Francis Medical Center. All three hospitals are full-service facilities offering medical management, surgical treatment, emergency care, medical education and therapy for all types of trauma or illness.
The Peoria Police Department has been the main component in education and enforcement of previous IDOT grants for reducing drunk driving in our community. Commitments to a safer community are listed below.
Youth Traffic Safety Training
The Police Department has been committed to training youth of the community as part of an intensive prevention program. Police officers demonstrate the mobile breathalyzer and give presentations on the DUI arrest procedure. Response to the program has been positive. These programs focus on video presentations, breathalyzer demonstrations, and drunk driving education.
Enforcement Campaign
The Illinois Department of Transportation has provided grant funding and the Peoria City Council has approved budgeted monies for person hours and equipment. Statistical Analysis indicates a higher incident during certain hours and days of the week so we target those hours with more personnel with a specific task of DUI enforcement. The average DUI processing rate has been two hours for each DUI arrest.
Crash Reenactments
Crash re-enactments have taken place with the cooperation of the Red Cross and detailed assistance of the Peoria Police Department. Enactments have been conducted at Peoria County high schools, also.
Public Awareness Campaigns
Excellent assistance has been offered by the local print and electronic media and is expected to continue. Public Service Announcements have been recorded by Police Department personnel, several interviews have taken place regarding drunk driving and news personnel from local news channels have ridden along with DUI patrols. All of these public awareness efforts have continuously disseminated the message of the dangers and legal implications of drunk driving.
Project Objectives and Past Practices
- Conduct an average of 25 hours per week, not to exceed 1300 hours per year, of hire back/enhanced DUI patrol.
- Participate in the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month.
- Participate in Child Passenger Safety Month, Buckle Up America Month and the Safe and Sober Campaign.
- Conduct an on-going public awareness campaign.
- Conduct programs on alcohol and traffic safety to area youth — targeting at-risk youth programs.
- Conduct Roadside Safety Checks with many other agencies.
- Participate in a “Youth-Alcohol Mini-Grant.”
Free Tools Available for Peoria Residents to Stay Safe
OffenderWatch
From the Office of the Sheriff…
In order to maintain awareness of sex offenders living in your neighborhood, we have added a Sex Offender Registry to our website. The registry will allow you to enter any local address. It will then provide a list of all registered Peoria County sex offenders living within a one-mile radius within the boundaries of Peoria County.
Related Links:
If you are looking for information about a particular sex offender registered in Peoria County, the registry can help there as well. We encourage you to take advantage of the free email notification. When a sex offender registers with the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office you will be alerted if the offender’s address is:
- in Peoria County
- within one mile of the address you have entered on your subscription
Organizational Chart
Police Week Activities

On May 17, 2017 during Police Week, the following awards were presented:
Police Officer of the Year
Officer Jason Leigh
Civilian Employee of the Year
Diana Delicath
Distinguished Service – Citizen
James Wiggins
Distinguished Service – Commissioned
Officer Nathan Adams
Officer Robert Allen
Officer Winfred Fallert
Officer James Feehan Jr.
Officer Morris Franklin
Officer Scott Goforth
Officer Jarvis Harrison
Officer James Hartman
Officer Ryan Isonhart
Officer Brandon Kientzle
Sergeant Robert McMillen
Officer Michael Ott
Distinguished Service – Civilian
Rachel Cook
Denise Dougherty
Kathleen Johnston
Lifesaving Certificate
Officer Nathan Adams
American Legion Meritorious Award
Officer Craig Johnson
Police week activities were observed during the week of May 14 – 20, 2017. The memorial service was held Wednesday, May 17 beginning at noon just outside of City Hall near the Solar Tide. An award program followed immediately after the service in the vestibule of the Civic Center Theatre.
For more information on Police Week please visit Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. website.
Safety Tips - Internet Usage
Safety Tips for Parents, Children, and Consumers Using the Internet
Parents: Safety Tips for Your Child’s Use of the Internet
1. Keep the computer that the child is using in a public room. Do not put it in the child’s bedroom or anywhere it will be difficult for you to monitor the child’s activity on-line. Review the material that is on your child’s computer. If you do not know how, ask a friend, relative or other knowledgeable person to review it for you. Any forms of pornography or sexual communication can be a warning sign that your child has or is communicating with a sexual predator. Further, consider talking openly with your child about the dangers of computer sex offenders.
2. Set safety rules that you and your child understand and post them by the computer. Below are some examples:
- Never give out personal information on-line, such as their full name, address, telephone number, or school information.
- Never upload pictures of themselves on the Internet to people they do not personally know.
- Never download pictures from an unknown source. There is a good chance that these downloaded pictures could be sexually explicit images.
- Never respond to E-mail or messages that are suggestive, obscene, or harassing.
- Never arrange a face-to-face meeting with an individual they met on-line.
3. Use either the parental controls built-in by the service provider or purchase software such as Cyber Sentinel, Net Nanny, Surf Watch or Cyber Sitter that installs parental controls on your computer. While parents should utilize these mechanisms, they should not totally rely on them.
4. Limit the amount of time your child spends on-line. Excessive use of the computer by a teenager may signal a problem. There is no substitute for parental supervision. Talk to your children and be aware of their on-line activities. Know what type of chat rooms, e-mail, and messages your child is involved in on-line. Also, take part in setting up your child’s on-line account so that you will be aware of their screen name and password. Your child’s e-mail should be checked randomly and be aware that your child could be contacted through the U.S. Mail. Be up front and honest with your child about your access to their account and the reasons why.
5. Investigate the computer safeguards that are used by your child’s school and at the homes of their friends. These are all places where your child might access the Internet without normal supervision.
6. Use Caller ID service to determine who is calling your child. Most telephone companies offer this service as well as service that allows you to block your number from appearing on someone else’s Caller ID. Contact your local telephone company for further information regarding various telephone services.
7. Spend time with your child on-line and learn what sites they like and one they do not.
What to Do if You Suspect Child Exploitation
Should any of the following situations arise in your residence by the use of the Internet you should immediately contact the Peoria Police Department or your local law enforcement agency:
1. Your child has received sexually explicit images from someone that knows that your child is under 18 years of age.
2. Your child has been sexually solicited by someone who knows that your child is under 18 years of age.
3. Your child or anyone in the residence has received child pornography.
If one of these examples occurs, keep the computer turned off in order to preserve any evidence. In addition, you should not attempt to copy any of the material found on the computer, unless directed to do so by the law enforcement agency.
Consumers: Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
When using the Internet to place orders, offer information only to legitimate businesses that guarantee secure on-line transactions.
Before providing personal information, visit Bad Traders.com to learn whether or not the business that you want to purchase from is reputable.
Keep track of credit and debit card statements monthly. Also, familiarize yourself with the mailing dates of these bills.
Shred sensitive documents before discarding them into the trash.
Check with any of the major credit bureaus at least once a year to verify your credit report for accuracy. The three largest are Trans Union, Experian, and Equifax.
Investors: Investigate Before You Invest!
Print a hard copy of any on-line solicitation that you are considering. Document the Internet address (URL) and date and time that you saw the offer. You may need it later.
Never assume that people on-line are who they claim to be.
Check with a trusted financial adviser attorney about an investment you find on line.
Anyone can advertise on the internet therefore do not assume that your internet service provider has approved the investment.
Ask the on-line promoter whether or not they’ve been paid to promote the opportunity. Also, ask the promoter where the company is incorporated. Then call that state’s Secretary of State and ask if the company is incorporated with them.
Before investing on-line, obtain financial information about the company. Documents such as an annual report and financial statements should be compared with the information provided to you on-line.
Never believe everything you read online. Investigate an on-line opportunity before investing.
If you feel you may have been victimized report it promptly. The sooner you report it the better chance you might have of getting your money back.
Internet Scams: Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim
Avoid overstated claims of product effectiveness.
Avoid advertisers that use hype titles and words such as “hot” to describe an investment opportunity.
Avoid exaggerated claims of profit or potential earnings. Phrases such as “Your principle is guaranteed” should be considered as a warning sign.
Avoid promotions such as exotic investments such as ostrich farming, gold mining and wireless cable TV.
For Suspected Internet Violations Contact the:
Peoria Police Department
600 SW Adams Street
Peoria , IL 61602
Telephone #: 309-673-4521
E-mail: peoriapd@peoriagov.org