From OHIO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
The 10th annual “Lights for Lives” was a successful operation, once again showing what can be accomplished by law enforcement working cooperatively in a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional effort. In the spirit of collaboration, the Ohio State Highway Patrol Findlay District partnered with law enforcement agencies from Williams, Fulton, Lucas, Defiance, Henry, Wood, Putnam, Paulding, Hancock, Van Wert, Allen, and Hardin counties to participate in the effort.
“Lights for Lives” is an enforcement campaign focused on saving as many lives as possible.
This is accomplished by officers activating their overhead lights and stopping as many vehicles as possible that have committed traffic violations. This is in attempt to educate and change motorists’ behavior by officers being highly visible with their overhead lights going. The campaign began November 23 at 6 a.m. and ran through Nov. 25 at 6 a.m., kicking off the holiday driving season.
During the 48-hour operation, officers stopped nearly 875 vehicles and issued 363 citations. There were 66 safety belt citations issued, and 18 impaired drivers were removed from northwest Ohio roadways. Furthermore, there were more than 20 criminal arrests, including two felony and misdemeanor arrests, with 18 involving drugs.
On behalf of all the law enforcement agencies who participated in “Lights for Lives,” we encourage safe driving during the holiday season and throughout the year. We want to remind motorists to move over or slow down for flashing lights and to always buckle up, as it is the simplest task that could save their life. Additionally, we ask motorists to never drive impaired and have a plan in place before they go out.
