Staff reports

MIAMI COUNTY — The Miami County Sheriff’s Office will be deploying additional deputies for the upcoming Christmas and New Years holidays.

The extra traffic enforcement commenced earlier this month and will conclude in January 2022, according to a press release from Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak. The additional deputies will be targeting high crash roadways and roadways that have high rates of OVI arrests. The deputies will be strictly enforcing all of Ohio’s traffic statutes.

The primary goal of the extra enforcement will be to remove alcohol and drug impaired drivers from county roadways. There is usually an increase in alcohol consumption over the holidays, which, when combined with driving, can be deadly. Deputies are hoping to curb auto crashes with the deployment of extra deputies on various days and at various time frames throughout the holiday season. If one chooses to drink this holiday season, please have a designated driver.

The extra traffic enforcement effort is being made possible through a grant the Sheriff’s Office received this year from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office. The grant funds the overtime for the deputies and pays some fuel costs. For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/Impaired.

“My staff and I wish all county residents a safe and Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year,” Duchak said.