Police Shift Tactics to Stop Ohio OVI/DUIs
The upcoming Labor Day holiday means police officers across the state will be out enforcing Ohio's drunk driving laws.


September 05, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Police Shift Tactics to Stop Ohio OVI/DUIs

Article provided by Raymond T. Faller Co., LPA
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The upcoming Labor Day holiday means police officers across the state will be out enforcing Ohio's drunk driving laws. This past Fourth of July, state highway patrol and sheriff's departments used saturation patrols targeting impaired drivers rather than the checkpoints of the past. Law enforcement officials are expected to use the effective tactic again this upcoming holiday weekend.

OVI (operating a vehicle while under the influence) and DUI (driving while under the influence) checkpoints were commonly used since the 1990s. However, the law requires that the locations of the checkpoints have to be publicized beforehand.

Saturation patrols require no such public notification. The name "saturation patrol" accurately describes what will happen on Labor Day across Ohio: Police officers will saturate certain areas in order to deter OVIs and DUIs. Officers will be active in their enforcement of all traffic laws, including speeding, reckless driving, seatbelt violations and DUI/OVI violations.

The saturation method has proven successful. Traffic fatalities were at their lowest for the Fourth of July holiday since 1998. There were five fatal crashes this year statewide, as opposed to 15 people killed in Ohio during the same period last year.

The penalties for OVI/DUI are severe. If you're stopped for drunk driving and refuse to take the sobriety test, or if your test results show a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit, the officer can immediately confiscate your driver's license.

A first OVI/DUI conviction means a minimum fine of $375 and a license suspension of six months to three years. Plus, you must serve three days in jail or attend a three-day driver intervention program. Of course, it's likely that your car insurance rates will go up, too.

Penalties are more severe for a second offense: License suspension for at least a year; a minimum of 10 days in jail; a minimum $525 fine; vehicle immobilization and plates impounded for 90 days. Again, it's very likely that your insurance will go up after a second OVI/DUI offense.

Penalties for third and fourth offenses include lengthier jail times, costlier fines and even forfeiture of your vehicle.

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