Ohio State Highway Patrol stepping up seat belt enforcement

CINCINNATI - Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol are spending some time off the major interstates, and instead are focusing on specific dangerous roadways and intersections.

On a normal day, you would not find Sgt. Chris Colbert patrolling the corner of Tylersville Road and State Route 747 in Butler County.  However it’s is not a normal day.

Colbert is not using a radar gun, instead just his eyes. He’s looking for basic violations like seat belts and not coming to a complete stop.

"The results of running a red light at an intersection, or a stop sign, or driving too close, or following too close, sometimes can cost someone their life," Colbert said.

For the next three months, state troopers are broken into three tactical squads across Ohio, giving extra patrol to stop a spike in the number of injury and fatal crashes this year.

Colbert explains it's not the seeing an accident that's the worst part of his job, it's telling family members their loved one is never coming home.

"Traffic violations, which are just minor misdemeanors in the revised code, are the smallest violations, are the only things that carry a death penalty, not just a fine," he said.

For more information on specifically which areas state troopers are focusing on, just go to statepatrol.ohio.gov .