DRUNK DRIVING CRACKDOWN
COLUMBUS – Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. But it’s not just a national problem. In 2007, 473 people died on Ohio’s roads in alcohol-related crashes. That’s why national, state and local leaders, along with law enforcement agencies from around the state, joined together to send a message that cannot be ignored: drunk driving will not be tolerated in Ohio.
Laura Dean-Mooney, National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); Director Henry Guzmán, Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS); Colonel Richard H. Collins, Ohio State Highway Patrol; Debbie Coleman, assistant health commissioner, Columbus Public Health; Paula Brooks, Franklin County Commissioner; Bill Windsor, Vice President of Safety, Nationwide Insurance; safety advocates and victims of drunk driving gathered at Columbus Public Health to kick off one of the largest enforcement efforts in the state in coordination with the national Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown on impaired driving, which runs through Labor Day weekend.
All the members of the Franklin County OVI Task Force attended as well as representatives from nine other OVI task forces from around the state. Mayors and leaders from every jurisdiction in Franklin County also attended to support the effort.
“Law enforcement universally takes the crime of drunk driving seriously. And that is what drunk driving is - a crime,” said Colonel Richard H. Collins. “Drunk driving is a crime that puts innocent people in danger, and all too frequently results in tragic consequences. If you drink and drive, you will be arrested."
During the enforcement period, law enforcement partners have more than 5,000 enforcement hours and 29 checkpoints planned around the state. If you drive drunk, you will be caught and arrested. A majority of the enforcement hours are paid for through federal grants from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, a division of ODPS.
“We are serious about saving lives and so are our partners, from law enforcement to safety advocates,” said Director Guzmán. “Safety partners in Ohio have been working to stop impaired driving for several years, but this year, we’re coordinating our efforts and the message around the state and nation – drunk driving is simply not worth the risk.”
“Drunk driving is preventable and we know how to eliminate it - increased enforcement and ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers,” said Laura Dean-Mooney. “Limited resources and time should be maximized for the greatest lifesaving impact, and sobriety checkpoints are one of the best tools we have to deter drunk driving.” Research has shown that highly publicized, highly visible and frequent sobriety checkpoints reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities by up to 24 percent.
The national Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. impaired driving crackdown is a prevention program organized by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity. This year’s effort is supported by $11 million in paid-national advertising to help put everyone on notice that if they are caught driving impaired, they will be arrested.
Laura Dean-Mooney, National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); Director Henry Guzmán, Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS); Colonel Richard H. Collins, Ohio State Highway Patrol; Debbie Coleman, assistant health commissioner, Columbus Public Health; Paula Brooks, Franklin County Commissioner; Bill Windsor, Vice President of Safety, Nationwide Insurance; safety advocates and victims of drunk driving gathered at Columbus Public Health to kick off one of the largest enforcement efforts in the state in coordination with the national Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown on impaired driving, which runs through Labor Day weekend.
All the members of the Franklin County OVI Task Force attended as well as representatives from nine other OVI task forces from around the state. Mayors and leaders from every jurisdiction in Franklin County also attended to support the effort.
“Law enforcement universally takes the crime of drunk driving seriously. And that is what drunk driving is - a crime,” said Colonel Richard H. Collins. “Drunk driving is a crime that puts innocent people in danger, and all too frequently results in tragic consequences. If you drink and drive, you will be arrested."
During the enforcement period, law enforcement partners have more than 5,000 enforcement hours and 29 checkpoints planned around the state. If you drive drunk, you will be caught and arrested. A majority of the enforcement hours are paid for through federal grants from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, a division of ODPS.
“We are serious about saving lives and so are our partners, from law enforcement to safety advocates,” said Director Guzmán. “Safety partners in Ohio have been working to stop impaired driving for several years, but this year, we’re coordinating our efforts and the message around the state and nation – drunk driving is simply not worth the risk.”
“Drunk driving is preventable and we know how to eliminate it - increased enforcement and ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers,” said Laura Dean-Mooney. “Limited resources and time should be maximized for the greatest lifesaving impact, and sobriety checkpoints are one of the best tools we have to deter drunk driving.” Research has shown that highly publicized, highly visible and frequent sobriety checkpoints reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities by up to 24 percent.
The national Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. impaired driving crackdown is a prevention program organized by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity. This year’s effort is supported by $11 million in paid-national advertising to help put everyone on notice that if they are caught driving impaired, they will be arrested.
posted by TMC NEWS at 1:53 PM
2 Comments:
Why not 11 million dollars for checkpoints instead of ads. The only way it will stop is if they are caught.
And also why not quit the ads and actually use the money to prosecute drunk drivers instead of repeatedly let them go free?
Case in point: Lorain, Ohio Law Director recently was arrested for 4th DUI. This 4th DUI was a hit/skip where a front porch was taken out. Luckily, no one was on the porch at the time of the accident. The lawyer for the offender filed "not guilty" in court. Does anyone think there will be a 5th?
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