Sat Feb 11 2012
Local law enforcement agencies and the Ohio Highway Patrol will be increasing enforcement in Portage County for St. Patrick's Day Wednesday in an effort to remove impaired drivers from the roads.
For many, St. Patrick's Day has become a popular night to celebrate with friends and family. Unfortunately, the night also has become very dangerous because of the large number of impaired drivers.
"Drinking and driving is not worth the risk, the results can be serious for yourself and others," said Portage County Safe Communities director and Ravenna Health Commissioner Lynette Blasiman. Safe Communities is a group of local health and safety organizations and law enforcement officials dedicated to educating the public about driving safety, including drunken driving.
"If you are with somebody who is about to drive or ride with somebody who is impaired, take their keys and help make arrangements for them to get home safely," said Lt. Michael Marucci, commander of the highway patrol's Ravenna post and a Safe Communities member.
The highway patrol made 159 drunken driving-related arrests between 6 a.m. March 17 and 6 a.m. March 18, 2009. Four motorists died during that time period across the state, all in drunken driving-related crashes.
"That is four people who died and four families whose lives will never be the same because someone decided to get behind the wheel impaired. Those deaths could have been avoided," Marucci said.
Portage County Sheriff David Doak said drivers should plan ahead and use designated drivers, noting that "buzzed driving is drunk driving whether you've had one too many drinks or way to many drinks.
"The consequences can be identical," he said.
Law enforcement across the midwest will be out in force to crack down on drunken driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to NHTSA, there were 134 fatal crashes on St. Patrick's Day 2008. Out of that number, 37 percent involved drivers and motorcyclists who were legally drunk, with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher.
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