Seneca County sheriff to step up road patrols

8/20/2001

TIFFIN -- Responding to an increasing number of fatal accidents, the Seneca County sheriff's office is increasing road patrols to target speeders, drunken drivers, and motorists who fail to use seat belts.

Maj. Tim Thwaits said the department will pay deputies overtime to beef up patrols and will install radar guns in two more cruisers. Major Thwaits said deputies will be on the lookout for erratic drivers who weave in and out of traffic and fail to yield the right of way.

He said the department plans to add two cars to its regular patrols over the Labor Day weekend.

The Fremont post of the Ohio Highway Patrol will assist with the stepped-up enforcement effort. Eleven people have been killed this year in 10 fatal accidents on Seneca County roads, compared with eight deaths in 2000 and six fatalities in 1999.