In a continued effort to reduce ticketing and improve road safety, the Cook County sheriff’s office is offering free vehicle light replacement to south suburban residents from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Oct. 30.
The county Lightsaver Program first started in 2021, and the sheriff’s office’s goal is to have replaced lights in more than 800 vehicles after the next event at Glenwood’s Public Works building at 19100 Chicago Heights Glenwood Road.
Sheriff Thomas Dart came up with the idea for the program to better support Ford Heights residents after the sheriff’s office took over policing in the financially strapped village of 1,800 people in 2008.
“We wanted to make sure that we are providing as many wraparound services to the community as possible,” said Patrick Flannery, the sheriff’s office’s executive director of community engagement.
Flannery said the sheriff’s office understood many residents struggled to afford to fix broken car lights, especially in Ford Heights, which has struggled with municipal corruption and high poverty.
“If they’re not able to change a light, then they might be getting a ticket for it, and then they’re paying even more money,” Flannery said. “So this program allows them to save twice, more or less.”
Since hosting the first two Lightsaver Program events in Ford Heights, Flannery said, the sheriff’s office has branched out throughout Cook County, because “the need is everywhere.”
With mechanics on staff and the ability to buy tail lights, head lights and license plate lights at wholesale price, Flannery said each vehicle light replacement typically costs the sheriff’s office “less than the price of a pizza.”
However, at the next scheduled event in Glenwood, limited spots are available and interested Cook County residents are asked to register ahead of time at bit.ly/sherifflightsaver. Other services that will be provided include electronics recycling, prescription drug disposal and secure document shredding, the sheriff’s office said.
Glenwood Mayor Toleda Hart said she was excited to provide space for the sheriff’s office for the Oct. 30 event, as she has been working to establish more community partnerships since taking office.
“We are building bridges with other elected officials to promote resources that benefit the community,” Hart said. “And that happens in different ways, like learning about programs that residents feel are a priority to them and just showing that Glenwood is a welcoming community.”
Hart said a key to her winning campaign as mayor in April was promising to increase government transparency and provide more resources to residents, and hosting the county Lightsaver Program is one of many ways she hopes to do that.
“Educating the residents of resources around them that they can tap into will (create) a mutual respect and leave them feeling that they’re heard,” Hart said.
Hart said Glenwood is also partnering with the Illinois secretary of state’s office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 22 to offer Department of Motor Vehicle services at Village Hall. Residents will be able to get driver’s licenses and Real IDs along with vehicle registration stickers. More information is available on the Village of Glenwood’s website.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
