COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State Highway Patrol will conduct statewide OVI checkpoints May 14-16 as part of a three-day effort to remove impaired drivers from Ohio roadways.
More than 100 local law enforcement agencies will provide operational support during the checkpoints. The Ohio Department of Transportation will also assist with traffic control and signage.
Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent, said the effort is about both deterrence and intervention.
“The goal of these statewide checkpoints is to deter and intercept impaired drivers, ensuring the safety of all motorists on Ohio’s roadways,” Jones said. “By working alongside our local and state partners, we are sending a clear message that impaired driving will not be tolerated.”
Patrol data shows impaired driving remains a leading factor in fatal and serious injury crashes across the state.
For Thomas Tomasheski of Grafton, the consequences of impaired driving are not a statistic. In June 2011, an impaired driver struck his family’s vehicle head-on, killing his daughter-in-law and grandson. His son and granddaughter were both hospitalized for several months.
“I have a life sentence,” Tomasheski said. “There is never a day that goes by without my mourning the loss of my family… never.”
Since the crash, Tomasheski has spoken publicly about the dangers of impaired driving.
“If together we stop one person from drinking and driving, [that’s] time well spent,” he said.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will not participate directly in the checkpoints but will have heightened OVI enforcement on water and land during the same period.
Motorists are encouraged to designate a sober driver, use a rideshare service, and never drive impaired. To report an impaired or reckless driver, call #677 to be connected to the nearest Ohio State Highway Patrol post.