(Richton Park, Ill.) – The Cook County Sheriff’s Office yesterday again provided free replacement and repair of car lights at what was its biggest such event to date. This public service took place at the Rich Township government garage off Governors Highway in Richton Park.
Automotive technicians who normally service the County’s fleet of Sheriff’s Police and other vehicles in the agency changed lights for a record of more than 60 registered participants. Included were headlights, taillights and license plate illumination. In recent months, the Sheriff’s Office has held a pair of these events in Ford Heights and another in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Normally a simple replacement of a headlight could cost $110.
Some of the repairs were fairly routine, but many others required removal of panels, bumpers or other parts of the cars, vans and light trucks which were brought to the event by those needing assistance. The goal of the program, initiated by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, is to keep residents safe and avoiding traffic stops and tickets for missing or nonfunctioning lights.
Sheriff Dart had asked his staff to analyze why Sheriff’s Police Officers were stopping motorists.
“92, 93% of stops we were making were all based on headlights and taillights,” Sheriff Dart has said. “If we get headlights and taillights repaired, our citizens save money and won’t be stopped for these minor violations. My great staff and I are always looking for ways to expand our community service.”
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is committed to future such events, as the number of people served has tripled since the previous effort and grown five-fold since the first one.
(Komunikat prasowy)
fot. Cook County Sheriff’s Office 
fot. Cook County Sheriff’s Office
