Patrol increasing level of enforcement

OSHP information

Through effective traffic enforcement, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is significantly impacting the criminal element on Ohio’s public roadways and in its communities. By troopers taking extra time during each traffic stop, and paying close attention to possible indicators of criminal activity, what on the surface seems to be a rather routine traffic stop can turn into something much more significant.

In 2011, the Patrol made 3,573 felony traffic stops. Of these stops, 74 percent involved a trooper “looking beyond the license plate” to detect criminal activity and making a felony arrest. The other 26 percent are attributed to a felony warrant apprehension. In addition, troopers made 6,137 drug arrests in 2011, of these arrests 2,885 were felony arrests – making up 47 percent of total felony arrests for the year.

“Every day our troopers are out on the road- taking felons out of our communities,” said Lt. Ray Haas, commander of the Van Wert Post.

Through April of this year, troopers have made 1,407 felony stops. This is a 17 percent increase when compared to the first four months of 2011. Through April 2012, felony stops have occurred most frequently in Franklin County with 156 arrests, Lorain County with 59 arrests, Fairfield County with 51 arrests and Cuyahoga County with 50 arrests.

Drivers are encouraged to call #677 to report impaired driving or drug activity.

For a complete statistical analysis for 2011 please visit www.statepatrol.ohio.gov/doc/Felony_Arrest_Bulletin_2012.pdf