## Site Selection and Setup Stark County law enforcement cannot place checkpoints arbitrarily. Locations are selected based on specific safety and statistical criteria, including: * **Historical Data:** Sites must have a documented history of alcohol-related traffic accidents, injuries, or high rates of OVI arrests. * **Visibility and Safety:** The location must have adequate lighting, clear warning signs, and enough space for police vehicles to park safely with their emergency lights activated. * **Traffic Flow:** The setup must allow officers to stop vehicles safely without causing hazardous traffic backups on major roadways. ## The Vehicle Selection Process To ensure that motorists are not targeted based on profiling or officer discretion, law enforcement must use a predetermined, objective mathematical pattern to stop cars. For example, officers may decide to stop every vehicle, every second vehicle, or every third vehicle. If traffic congestion increases and poses a safety hazard, the commanding officer may adjust the pattern (e.g., changing from stopping every vehicle to stopping every fifth vehicle) or temporarily suspend stops until traffic clears. ## Driver Interaction and Evaluation When a vehicle enters the checkpoint, the initial interaction is designed to be brief, usually lasting only a minute or two.
* **Initial Screening:** The officer greets the driver and explains the purpose of the checkpoint. During this brief conversation, the officer observes the driver for common signs of impairment, such as the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, glassy eyes, or diminished motor skills. * **Secondary Diversion:** If the driver shows no signs of impairment, they are allowed to proceed. If the officer establishes reasonable suspicion of impairment, the driver is directed to a secondary testing area out of the main flow of traffic. * **Further Testing:** In the secondary area, officers may conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) or request a portable breath test to determine if there is probable cause for an OVI arrest. ## Finding Checkpoint Information Residents looking for information on upcoming Stark County OVI checkpoints can monitor local news outlets, as law enforcement is legally required to distribute press releases to the media. Additionally, the Stark County Sheriff’s Office and local municipal police departments frequently post traffic advisories and checkpoint locations on their official websites and social media platforms.
