Extra patrols on alert for impaired drivers ahead of Super Bowl

With the Super Bowl just days away, there already are extra eyes on the road, looking for impaired drivers.

News Center 7's Monica Castro spent Friday night on a ridealong with Sgt. Matt Cleveland of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Xenia Post.

He is among troopers who have been handing out stickers ahead of the weekend that say “don’t let fans drive impaired.”

Tim Thompson is all set for the Big Game. “Pepsi, and some chips, stuff like that,” is all ready to go to a party.

“This year, my brother, it’s going to be at his house,” he said.

“I look forward to the commercials.”

With people heading to house parties or bars to watch, you can expect law enforcement officers out, too.

“We will have extra units out working this weekend, looking for impaired drivers or any crash-causing violations,” Cleaveland said.

On Friday night, Cleveland was scanning high traffic roadways.

“(Interstate) 675, U.S. 35, those are always a priority for us and will be so this weekend,” Cleaveland said.

According to the OSHP, last year during Super Bowl Sunday, troopers statewide made 62 OVI-related arrests.

>> Franklin man faces 13th OVI charge after latest arrest, OSHP says

In Montgomery County there were four OVI arrests that same day, and in Greene County, there was one fatal OVI-related crash.

“The years we have more OVI arrests we tend to see more injury crashes and fatalities," Cleaveland said.

While Thompson is ready for a fun weekend, he said he hopes it isn’t ruined by drunk and otherwise impaired drivers.

>> Fired Dayton state trooper says he was in ‘alcohol rehab’ prior to suspected OVI crash

“If they do something negative, drinking, driving, that type of stuff, they can have regrets,” Thompson said.

And Cleaveland warns, anyone who gets behind the wheel after drinking too much can find themselves in the back seat of a cruiser, or worse.

To help partiers get a safe ride home, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a SaferRide Mobile App, available in the app store.

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