Drugs don’t just harm the person that is using them. Friends, family, coworkers all experience the heartache and devastation of watching a loved one be controlled by illegal substances.

Drug interdiction and keeping those drugs off the streets and out of the hands of loved ones has become an increased focus for the Patrol. Through effective traffic enforcement, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers are able to make great inroads in preserving the sanctity of Ohio families and helping to keep our neighborhoods safe.

Our troopers are trained to take extra time when stopped with motorists, and to do what we call, “Look beyond the traffic stop.”

By 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.

For instance, through effective traffic enforcement we are able to interdict large shipments of illegal narcotics that are destined for cities right here in Ohio.
 
Between 2005 and 2007, state troopers recorded 14,593 drug-related arrests, of which 38 percent were issued on a Friday or Saturday. Over that same three-year span, for all days of the week, midnight to 2:00 a.m. stood out as “peak” hours for drug arrests – totaling 4,323 drug arrests, and nearly one in four drug arrests were for motorists age 19-22 years old.

Just through Feb. 10 of this year, state troopers had already recorded 541 drug arrests on our state’s roads – all right out of traffic stops. I encourage to visit the Patrol’s Web site on statepatrol.ohio.gov  to see unique and innovative mapping that shows exactly where state troopers are removing the criminal element from Ohio roads through effective, professional traffic enforcement.

When a state trooper, sheriff deputy or police officer stop a shipment of cocaine, marijuana, heroin, or some other illegal narcotic before it enters an Ohio city or neighborhood, we are able to stop the spread of these drugs which can permeate communities like a disease.

On a larger scale, through effective traffic enforcement, we are able to arrest dangerous criminals before they are able to damage property in Ohio communities or inflict serious injury or worse on Ohio families.

Of course there is still a lot more to do in getting drugs off our roads and out of our neighborhoods.

It’s not enough anymore for the public to rely solely on law enforcement to keep communities safe.

Every citizen has a responsibility to be part of the solution against crime. Who knows better than you when something or someone looks out of place in your neighborhood, place of business, or other local areas in which you are familiar? If you see something that looks out place, or someone acting suspicious in your neighborhood – I encourage you to contact your local law enforcement agency.

If you are traveling around Ohio, and see something that appears dangerous, or need non-emergency assistance yourself, you can reach the Ohio State Highway Patrol toll-free by calling 1-877-7-PATROL. Of course, you can always call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency to get law enforcement and/or emergency medical services to respond.

Community safety involves a commitment by everyone. Those who want to do harm to others are counting on the fact that individuals and neighborhoods won’t step up and take responsibility to ensure the safety of our communities and families.

In the Ohio State Highway Patrol, we are constantly talking to our troopers about increasing officer awareness and understanding what, “looking beyond the traffic stop,” really means. 

I encourage you to do the same thing – and make the commitment today to heighten your awareness to make your neighborhood, and Ohio roads, as safe as possible.

Crime and drug prevention awareness all starts by working together.