The Ohio State Highway Patrol has announced they will operate two OVI checkpoints in the City of Marion tonight (Friday, July 12, 2013). They will be joined by officers from the Marion Police Department and deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The first checkpoint will be from 8:30pm to 10:00pm on State Route 95 between Forest Lawn Boulevard and State Route 529. The second checkpoint will be from 10:30pm to 12:30am in the 200 block of North Main Street.
“There were 12,168 OVI-related crashes in which 431 people were killed and 7,299 people were injured last year in Ohio,” explained Lt. Lance Shearer, commander of the Marion Patrol Post. “State troopers make on average over 24,000 OVI arrests each year in an attempt to combat these dangerous drivers. OVI checkpoints are designed to not only deter impaired driving, but to proactively remove these dangerous drivers from our roadways.”
The OVI checkpoints are funded by federal grants and are planned to deter and intercept impaired drivers. In addition to the checkpoints, the Patrol said that saturation patrols will also be held in the nearby areas to aggressively combat alcohol-related crashes.
“If you plan to consume alcohol, designate a driver or make other travel arrangements before you drink,” Lt. Shearer urged. “Don’t let another life be lost for the senseless and selfish act of getting behind the wheel impaired.”
People often question why OVI checkpoints are announced. The reason comes from rules that resulted from a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1990. But the Patrol also says the principal benefit of a sobriety checkpoint is its deterrent effect on drinking drivers or potential drinking drivers, not making actual arrests.
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