OVI Checkpoint In Solon Set For Sept. 1

SOLON, OH — Solon Police will be conducting an OVI checkpoint on Sept. 1. Spokespeople for the department said the checkpoints will be highly visible and should deter drunk driving in the city.

“Because impaired driving accounts for so many of our region’s traffic safety deaths, it is imperative that we find ways to keep impaired drivers off the roadways and to convince those who’ve been drinking not to get behind the wheel in the first place,” noted Ptl. Roy Cunningham in a statement.

Impaired driving led to a lot of crashes in 2016. Alcohol-related accidents in Ohio totaled 12,243 and 346 were fatal. Another 7,199 of those accidents led to injuries for those involved, Solon Police say. (To stay up to date on these stories, subscribe to the Patch Solon newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

“Highly visible and well publicized checkpoints are an important part of the equation because they increase the perceived risk of arrest and make people think twice about drinking and driving,” Cunningham said. “We want the public to know where we are, and we want those who read about the checkpoint to tell everyone they know that we’re cracking down on impaired driving in the City because we want everyone on our roadways to be safe.”

If a resident finds themselves out and about and intoxicated, Solon Police recommend the following:

• Call a cab, Uber, or Lyft
• See if you can stay at a nearby hotel
• Call a friend of family member to pick you up
• If you're intoxicated at home, stay in your house
• If you're going out with a group, always designate a sober driver

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