Sylvania Township police to run sobriety checkpoint overnight on U.S. 20

2/23/2007

A sobriety checkpoint to prevent drunk driving will be conducted overnight from 10 p.m. today to 3 a.m. tomorrow on U.S. 20 (West Central Avenue) westbound between Reynolds Road and Holland-Sylvania Road in Sylvania Township.

Township police will be checking drivers for alcohol and drug impairment, said Lt. Robert Austin, and impaired drivers will be arrested.

U.S. 20 continues to have a high number of impaired-driving arrests as well as documented numbers of crashes involving impaired driving, said Police Chief Robert Metzger.

Earlier this month, the chief told township trustees that the number of DUI arrests increased from 14 in January, 2006, to 25 in January, 2007.

In addition to the checkpoint in Sylvania Township, police said the county DUI Task Force will be conducting extra drunken-driver patrols will be conducted in the county throughout this weekend.

Chief Metzger said that the goal is to save lives through the use of high visibility DUI enforcement operations. We believe that this increased enforcement, together with greater public awareness, will help decrease traffic fatalities. If you plan to drink, arrange to use a designated driver, public transportation, or a taxi.

The checkpoint will be conducted in conjunction with Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Toledo Area Metroparks police. Support in operating the checkpoint will be supplied by the Lucas County DUI Task Force and by the Ohio Department of Transportation, police said.