The Ohio State Highway Patrol says it will roll out statewide OVI checkpoints across Ohio from May 14 through May 16 as part of a multi-day enforcement push. With serious and fatal crashes on the rise this year, troopers say they are stepping up efforts to curb impaired driving, including heavier saturation patrols and a more visible presence on both highways and local roads throughout the weekend.
As reported by 10TV, local law enforcement agencies will back up the checkpoints in the field, while the Ohio Department of Transportation will handle traffic control and signage. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will increase patrols on waterways and public lands over the same three days, although ODNR will not be staffing the checkpoints themselves. Patrol officials say they typically hold back exact checkpoint locations until the day of operation, a tactic they argue helps maintain the effectiveness of the enforcement.
Statewide numbers behind the push
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol's OVI dashboard, Ohio has already logged more than 60 fatal crashes and nearly 200 serious-injury crashes tied to impaired driving since the start of 2026. Troopers say those numbers are driving the timing of this effort and reflect a broader rise in OVI-related incidents this year. The dashboard, along with the patrol's traffic-safety bulletins, charts longer-term trends that officials hope to reverse through targeted checkpoints and saturation patrols.
What motorists should expect
Col. Charles Jones, the patrol superintendent, said the checkpoints are meant to "deter and intercept impaired drivers, ensuring the safety of all motorists on Ohio’s roadways," and that troopers will concentrate coverage on major travel corridors. As noted by 10TV, the patrol is urging Ohioans to plan transportation before a night out and to line up a designated sober driver. Members of the public are also asked to call *677 to report apparent impaired or reckless drivers, per the Ohio Turnpike.
Part of a broader enforcement push
The upcoming checkpoints are part of an aggressive enforcement calendar that has already seen troopers team up with neighboring states and local agencies for earlier multi-day blitzes this year. For instance, the Ohio State Highway Patrol cited hundreds of drivers during a mid-February multi-state enforcement project that focused on speed, seat-belt, and OVI violations, according to Spectrum News. Officials say these checkpoints are intended to make people think twice before driving impaired, not to hassle drivers who are following the law.
Troopers say they will tally results and any arrest numbers from the May checkpoints and release those figures after the operation wraps. Until then, officials are repeating the basics: schedule a sober ride, use rideshare options or a designated driver, and call in unsafe drivers when you see them.
