With it being the Independence Day weekend, law enforcement agencies across central Ohio are stepping up efforts to keep the roads clear of drunk drivers.
But you don't have to wear a badge to get these drivers off the road, and officials say these days, more and more people like you and me are stepping up.
For many, this weekend will mean fireworks.
For Sergeant Shad Caplinger with the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Circleville Post, it means a lot of traffic; traffic he says may very well include drunk drivers. So they're taking advantage of some federally funded overtime.
"We're increasing our patrol efforts and increasing manpower so we can be in a position to proactively deter impaired driving this weekend," says Caplinger.
But it doesn't have to be up to troopers to track down drunk drivers. You can also help. All you need is a cell phone. Call either 1-800-GRAB-DUI or 1-877-7 PATROL and you'll get a dispatcher where you can report a suspected drunk driver.
Caplinger says the number of those calls made has gone up over the past few years.
"This is not just the responsibility of the highway patrol or some police officer," says Albert Bondurant of Columbus. He says he’s made five such calls in the last four years. "I don't always know if it's somebody who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs but if they're driving erratically I feel it should be reported and looked into," says Bondurant.
According to Caplinger, more often than not, those drivers are indeed impaired.
Bondurant says, "I try to give some information so I’ve got a license plate, make and model of the vehicle and approximate location so they have an idea of where they can intercept that vehicle."
"We're all going out to make our best effort as a team this weekend to prevent tragedy," says Caplinger.
That includes you and me.
For the latest news and information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail stories@nbc4i.com.
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement