MOUNT VERNON — Law enforcement held an OVI checkpoint just outside downtown Mount Vernon on Friday, where Ohio 13 and Mount Vernon Avenue intersect.
The Mount Gilead Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Mount Vernon Police Department all played a role in the event.
The Patrol didn’t make any arrests in Knox County, but had four in Morrow County.
At the time of publication, it is not confirmed if any arrests were made by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office or the Mount Vernon Police Department.
“The OVI checkpoint is in conjunction with the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign; this is just one component of it,” Lt. Coby Holloway, commander of the Mount Gilead Post, said.
The three agencies all collaborated on a saturation patrol as well.
“The Highway Patrol, along with our partner law enforcement agencies, the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, are committed to keeping the motoring public safe through a combination of proactive enforcement, visibility, and education,” Holloway said.
“We focus our efforts on the most dangerous driving behaviors such as impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving and seatbelt violations because these are the leading causes of serious crashes.”
The federal grant-funded checkpoint’s location was based on OVI arrest statistics.
Holloway’s operations major and operations staff lieutenant ultimately selected the site location, with approval from Mount Vernon’s law director, Robert Broeren.
Despite the positive interactions and educational opportunities with citizens, officers know they can’t tackle impaired driving alone.
“We can’t fight the battle against impaired driving on our own,” Holloway said.
“We need your commitment to make our roads safe by planning ahead to designate a driver and insisting that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.”
