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Drinkers beware: Police are watching the roads

This holiday weekend will see a heavier-than-normal law enforcement presence on lookout for drunken drivers.

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By Everdeen Mason, Staff Writer 1:06 AM Thursday, July 2, 2009

The Ohio State Highway Patrol plans to have 80 percent of its troopers on the road for the Independence Day holiday weekend in an effort to curb drunken driving, according to the patrol.

The Hamilton Post of the state patrol is focusing on areas that have a history of high traffic volumes.

“There’s your highly populated areas, those are always covered,” said Lt. Wayne Price of the Hamilton Post.

Starting Friday, July 3, Hamilton police also will be more aggressive in pursuing intoxicated drivers, according to a news release.

“We will be using all of our resources to ensure a safe holiday for our citizenry,” said Hamilton police Chief Neil R. Ferdelman.

In Middletown, the police are using a state grant to cover overtime patrol shifts in addition to the regular patrols, said Middletown police Maj. David Van Arsdale.

“Any holiday we try to step up enforcement,” Van Arsdale said.

The Butler County Sheriff’s Office is focusing on deterring crime.

“Fourth of July we try to send out extra officers, try to have high visibility to deter criminal behavior,” said Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer.

To assist officers, Butler County officials are asking residents to be responsible.

“If you are going to partake (in drinking), designate a driver,” said Carl Phillips, county DUI task force coordinator. “If you see a reckless driver, call 911.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2192 or emason@coxohio.com.

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Citizens! As this is a holiday weekend, many are not required to report to work where you slave to pay off your student loans and to feed & house your children, while you continue to go deeper in debt and fear layoffs. Happy Holiday Citizens! Be advised your government will be watching you, pulling drivers over for anything, stopping you at roadblocks, and taking samples of blood, breath, and urine as we see fit. You are DUI if we say so, even with 0.0% BAC. Happy Independence Day, citizen!

Me
6:43 AM, 7/4/2009

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The police CLAIM it's to get the drunks off the road.

I don't buy it.

George in Trenton
4:33 PM, 7/2/2009

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i wish they would come out here on rt 127 in new miami its drunk city out here with all the **** bars on this highway.

bob
3:30 PM, 7/2/2009

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I'm so tired of the police posting when they are going to have checkpoints! Just get the drunks off the road!!! My ex drives EVERYDAY drunk and he gets away with it! Shenanigans, Barneys, so many Lindenwald bars (and Fairfield) - and he hits up all of them AND all the drive-thrus! It's not going to stop until THEY are stopped!

Was married to a drunk......
1:39 PM, 7/2/2009

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I did lose someone to a drunk driver and yes it does hurt. However, all of this trolling is just a forerunner of what the near future holds when the government has total control over everything. By the way, the dui fatality occured during broad daylight when the lunchtime crowd was on the road. According to all WWII vets and those who lived during Hitler's reign, this was the way the gov't of Germany gained total control over the masses. History is getting ready to repeat itself.

Lloyd
1:01 PM, 7/2/2009

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