Sheriff Dallas Baldwin's Franklin County DUI Task Force is running a sobriety checkpoint on US 23 south of I-270 in Hilliard on Aug. 14, targeting impaired drivers on one of the city's busiest north-south corridors.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office announced the operation on its official X account the morning of Aug. 14. No specific hours were listed. A previous task force checkpoint on July 24 on US 40 in Truro Township ran from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

What drivers should expect

Under Ohio law, sobriety checkpoints use a pre-determined, neutral pattern for stopping vehicles, such as every third or fifth car, rather than random or discretionary stops. Drivers who are stopped must provide their license, registration and insurance. Deputies conduct brief visual checks for signs of impairment such as bloodshot eyes, slurred speech or erratic behavior.

Motorists who are not impaired can expect a short interaction before being waved through.

Statewide OVI numbers

Impaired driving remains a serious problem across Ohio. In 2025, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers made 15,067 OVI arrests, according to the patrol's Facebook page. That same year, 493 OVI-related crashes killed 522 people statewide.

The Aug. 14 checkpoint is at least the second the task force has run in recent weeks. The July 24 operation targeted US 40 east of McNaughten Road in Truro Township.

How to report impaired driving

Residents who see a driver they believe is impaired should call 911 immediately. For non-emergency questions about the checkpoint or other Sheriff's Office matters, call 614-525-3333.