COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Dozens were arrested last week amid a traffic blitz targeting reckless driving last week.
The latest iteration of ‘Operation Unity,’ an enforcement operation targeting different parts of the Columbus area, took place between 2 p.m., May 2, and 2 a.m., May 3.
Whitehall Police Chief Mike Crispen, acting as the head of the Central Ohio Chiefs Association, said officers:
conducted 696 traffic stopsissued 365 citationsmade 71 misdemeanor arrestsmade 12 felony arrestsremoved 27 impaired drivers from roadwaysmade 38 combined misdemeanor and felony warrant arrests
Police also held over 70 proactive education events aimed at deterring future reckless behavior.
“This was a great effort by all the members of this Association to send a message to reckless drivers ahead of the summer months, where this behavior tends to increase,” said Crispen. “Proactive traffic enforcement doesn’t just reduce crashes — it disrupts crime – as can be seen in the subsequent arrests made following the traffic stops.”
The operation targeted areas identified as high-crash corridors and other places that showed increased public complaints, noted by Ohio State Highway Patrol Lieutenant CJ Niemeyer and Hilliard Police Chief Mike Woods.
