Officers look for more than DUIs at checkpoints
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Following its most recent checkpoint, the Franklin County DUI Task Force is reminding people not to drive under the influence or partake in other dangerous behavior behind the wheel.
“It’s not an 'I got you;' it’s about being compliant under the standards for which we can operate and education," Franklin County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert said.
The task force operates checkpoints around central Ohio at least 16 times a year. The most recent was held from late on Aug. 8 to early on Aug. 9. Information about where they will be is required by law to be shared in advance.
“We hope that people, at that point, then make a plan and/or don't make the poor choice, because it's a choice," Gilbert said.
The most recent checkpoint was set up at Georgesville Road and Clime Road on the southwest side. There were more than 200 stops and no DUI arrests, according to the sheriff's office. Gilbert said that does not happen often.
“You could take that two ways," he said. "We take it as a positive because that means did we get the word out and did we have people out there making better choices, or if we have a high number of DUI arrests, then effectively we’ve done our job to remove an impaired driver."
Deputies did stop a car that was being driven by a 14-year-old.
“The mother was in the car, and the mother, because she didn't have a license, was allowing her 14-year-old to drive her from point A to point B, which is a violation of the law," Gilbert said. "It's considered wrongful entrustment."
Gilbert said in addition to the DUI enforcement, what happened at the most recent checkpoint is another example of them keeping the roads safer.
“The biggest piece we want is we want to educate the public on the dangers of drunk driving," he said. "We want people to think ahead and have a plan."
Three child restraint citations were also issued at the checkpoint.
The next checkpoint is scheduled for October. Gilbert said the locations of the checkpoints are chosen based on where there have been drunk driving-related crashes or arrests.