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 The Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall passes through downtown Wapakoneta Wednesday, September 1. Staff photo/William Laney By CARLA MEYER
Staff Writer
For 45 minutes, the roar of motorcycles could be heard passing under an American flag hanging from two ladder trucks. For 45 minutes, area residents gathered in the shadow of the Auglaize County Courthouse and Wapakoneta Fire Station waved and clapped as motorcyclists rode by.
The smiles and waves turned into clapping and cheers as the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall passed down Willipie Street on its way to Custenborder Field in Sidney where it was greeted by a field of American flags.
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Monday, 02 November 2009 |
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Assistant Managing Editor
Tougher financial times may be at least partially to blame for an increased number of motorists on the road driving under suspension, a local law enforcement official says.
“It’s always been a problem not only here, but all over the state,” Lt. Tom Brookhart of the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol told the Wapakoneta Daily News.
“Tougher times may be forcing more people to do it,” he said. “Their financial situation is forcing more into that situation. When it comes to paying car insurance, court costs or reinstatement fees, those are going to lose out. Someone is not going to pay for those if they have no money to eat.”
He said troopers with the local post have come across more motorists driving under suspension during the recent economic situation, as more people are out of work and have less money to go around to pay bills.
Brookhart said in general, motorists who tend to drive while under suspension are repeat offenders, not only in that area, but also often are picked up routinely for other offenses such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of illegal drugs and driving without car insurance.
In a report released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol recently, Auglaize County had 630 driving under suspension citations issued between 2006 and 2008. The district, which also includes Mercer, Logan, Union, Darke, Shelby, Champaign, Miami, Preble, Montgomery and Clark counties had 9,095 during that same time period. Auglaize County was fourth highest in the district, behind Montgomery, Clark and Miami counties.
Franklin, with 3,656, and Scioto, with 2,789, counties had the most driving under suspension arrests in the state. Those two counties were followed by Montgomery and Clark in the local district. Throughout Ohio, troopers made 84,632 citations for the offense.
Thirty-four percent of the citations were for motorists 25-years-old or younger with an additional 34 percent for motorists between the ages of 26 and 35, according to a release.
Of the total arrests, 18 percent involved impaired motorists.
Additional offenses accompanying the violations were 25 percent with speeding violations, 29 percent safety belt violations and 9 percent involving a crash.
A large portion of the driving under suspension citations took place at night and on weekends, with 28 percent issued between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Sunday and 34 percent issued between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. all days.
So far, 2009 figures remain relatively consistent with 2008 data statewide — 38 percent of driving under suspension violations occurred between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Sunday with 33 percent talking place between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. all days of the week.
Seventeen percent of the citations have included OVI arrests, 25 percent speeding citations and 25 percent safety belt violations.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 03 November 2009 )
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