Law enforcement gearing up to keep impaired drivers off road during July 4 weekend

Eric Marotta, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
Sgt. Dan Drummond of the Stow Police Department approaches a vehicle at a sobriety checkpoint conducted last year by the Summit County OVI Task Force on East Turkeyfoot Road in Green.
Sgt. Dan Drummond of the Stow Police Department approaches a vehicle at a sobriety checkpoint conducted last year by the Summit County OVI Task Force on East Turkeyfoot Road in Green.

The Summit County OVI Task Force has announced it will be conducting sobriety checkpoints starting Friday night through Saturday morning.

The task force advises motorists that if they have been drinking, they should look for a ride home instead of driving.

Summit County does not announce the locations of its sobriety checkpoints in advance.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is also planning to crack down on impaired drivers during the Fourth of July holiday reporting period, which is from Friday to Monday at midnight.

The patrol’s zero-tolerance policy is part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Operation CARE enforcement campaigns aimed at removing impaired drivers from the roadways.

Arrive Alive offers rides home

Motorists in Summit County may be able to receive a free ride from 6 a.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Tuesday, courtesy of Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh's Arrive Alive program for the July 4 holiday weekend.

The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office is again teaming up with Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree to use the ride-share service LYFT to provide free and reduced fare rides home in Summit County for anyone who has had too much to drink while celebrating the July 4 holiday.

Summit County residents who need a ride home after drinking alcohol can use the LYFT code: SUMMITJULY422 to claim one of 400 one-time use codes.

According to the highway patrol, there were 21 fatal crashes that killed 23 people during last year's holiday. Of those, 12 crashes and 12 fatalities involved alcohol and/or drugs. The [atrol recorded 538 OVI arrests during the reporting period.

Fatheree said deputies will be looking for impaired drivers all weekend.

"Please utilize the Arrive Alive program if you find yourself in need of a safe ride home. It could be a life-saving decision on your part.”

The highway patrol encourages motorists to call #677 to report impaired drivers, drug activity or stranded motorists.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OVI checkpoints, free rides, increased patrols over July 4 weekend