COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Highway Patrol has announced locations and times for OVI checkpoints in 14 counties Thursday evening, including Richland and Ashland.
In Richland County, the checkpoint will be on U.S. 42 near milepost 15 in Mifflin Township from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
In Ashland County, it will be on Ohio 3 near milepost 5 from 7 to 10 p.m., the OSHP said in an emailed press release Thursday morning.
Checkpoints will also be conducted Thursday evening in these 12 other counties:
- Lucas County – 7805 Airport Highway from 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.
- Wood County – East Front Street at Elm Street in Perrysburg from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Marion County – Mount Vernon Avenue in Marion from 9 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
- Medina County – 817 Pearl Road in Brunswick from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Geauga County – state Route 44 near milepost 18 from 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Portage County – state Route 43 north of Interstate 76 from 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Jefferson County – County Road 22A and Malone Drive from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
- Tuscarawas County – state Route 39 near milepost 12 from 10 p.m. – 12 a.m.
- Butler County – Dixie Highway from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Warren County – state Route 73 near Meadowview Court from 10 p.m. – 12 a.m.
- Jackson County – state Route 93 near milepost 14 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
- Scioto County – state Route 139 at milepost 8 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The statewide OVI checkpoints, paid for by federal grant funds, are planned to deter and intercept impaired drivers, the patrol said.
The checkpoints will also be held in conjunction with nearby saturation patrols to aggressively combat impaired driver-related injury and fatal crashes.
“If you plan to consume alcohol, designate a sober driver or make other travel arrangements before you drink. Don’t let another life be lost for the senseless and selfish act of getting behind the wheel impaired,” the OSHP said in the press release.
OVI checkpoints OK’d by state, federal courts
The legality of OVI checkpoints in Ohio has been approved in both state and federal judicial decisions.
The U.S. Supreme Court, in the landmark case of Michigan v. Sitz (1990), determined the benefits of sobriety checkpoints in deterring drunk driving outweigh the minimal intrusion on individual privacy.
This ruling permits DUI checkpoints under the U.S. Constitution by balancing the state’s interest in preventing drunk driving against the level of intrusion on individual drivers who the police briefly stop.
In Ohio, the Supreme Court has also affirmed the legality of DUI checkpoints, stipulating certain conditions to ensure they comply with constitutional standards.
These conditions, as outlined by the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Policy Number OSP-200.21, include:
— The site of the checkpoint be selected by an official other than those who will conduct the checks.
— The law enforcement agency planning to conduct a checkpoint to demonstrate that there is a significant alcohol crash problem at the location chosen for the checkpoint. The site of the proposed checkpoint must have a significant history of alcohol-related crashes and impaired driving violations. The time and day of the checkpoint must parallel the peak periods of alcohol crash involvement.
— The site selection process must consider the safety of motorists and officers.
— The site must allow officers to divert vehicles out of the traffic stream without creating a hazard or traffic backup.
— The checkpoint commander will determine the random sequence of the stops and specify the method used to indicate which vehicles are to be stopped.
— The checking officers will greet the driver, screen him/her for the required articulated signs of impairment and either release the vehicle or have the vehicle diverted to the screening area.
— Should the initial observation of the driver give probable cause of a violation of 4511.19 ORC, the driver will be diverted to the screening area.
