East St. Louis & St. Louis Advisory
GAS UP IN COLLINSVILLE OR CASEYVILLE OR PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK!
If you are traveling WESTBOUND and are at 1/4 tank, get gas regardless that it is cheaper in St. Louis. East St. Louis, (or anywhere WEST of I-255 along I-64/US 40 and between the Mississippi River is in my opinion and supported statistically a high crime/violent crime area. That includes the community of Washington Park and even downtown St. Louis. Not only are gas stations hard to find between I-255 in Illinois and Clayton/Skinker/Forest Park along I-64/40 or I-70 (Missouri side), they are all in scary neighborhoods.
Car Burglary in the downtown St. Louis is out of control!
If you are going to a St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams or St. Louis Blues game, pay for parking in a secure lot! Car burglaries are out of control in the downtown area. NEVER, EVER, EVER leave your Radar Detector, GPS, cell phone, CD case, Ipod, computer, or anything that a crack head could pawn for $2 in your car where he or she could see it. I promise you will be buying new windows.
Stay in Collinsville and take the Metro Link from the Fairview Heights Station (http://www.metrostlouis.org/) to downtown events! Save money, save time, save damage to your car!
ALWAYS lock your doors when traveling through any area, but double check them when downtown!
Always Wear Your Seatbelts – It is the Law in Illinois and Missouri
Always SAFELY merge to left when emergency or law enforcement vehicles are on shoulder! – It is the law in Illinois and Missouri!
When possible, move accidents out of lanes in accidents – It is the law and prevents further accidents!
This information is provided by the webmaster and is based on his personal experience and statistical data available at the FBI, St. Louis, East St. Louis Washington Park police departments. Typically when I drive to a St. Louis event, I take my “beater” truck that has nothing of value and appears that way!
I like St. Louis and go often. I’d fly over East St. Louis if there wasn’t an Interstate!
The webmaster.