The eighth annual “Lights for Lives” teamed up local law enforcement agencies working cooperatively in a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional effort.
In the spirit of collaboration, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Findlay District, in conjunction with nearly 30 law enforcement agencies in Northwest Ohio from the following counties: Williams, Fulton, Lucas, Defiance, Henry, Wood, Putnam, Paulding, Hancock, Van Wert, Allen, and Hardin counties participated.
“Lights for Lives” is a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional, cooperative enforcement campaign focused on officers activating their overhead lights and stopping as many vehicles that have committed traffic violations to save as many lives as possible.
It began on Nov. 25 at 6 a.m., and ran through Nov. 26 at 6 p.m., kicking off the holiday driving season.
Unfortunately, during the 36-hour period there was one life lost in a traffic crash in Northwest Ohio.
During the 36-hour operation officers reported stopping nearly 2,000 vehicles and issued 558 citations. There were 86 safety belt citations issued, while three impaired drivers were removed from Ohio’s roadways. Further, there were more than 91 criminal arrests including 20 felonies and misdemeanors while 20 involved drug arrests.
On behalf of all law enforcement who participated in “Lights for Lives,” we would like to remind motorists this holiday season to always buckle up, as it is the one thing most likely to save their life, and slow down or move over for stopped traffic. Additionally, they must remember to plan ahead and never operate a vehicle when impaired by drugs and/or alcohol.
