JEFFERSON — The Ashtabula County OVI task force has received an increase in its federal grant, giving the force more funding to work toward the reduction of alcohol-related crashes in the county.

OVI stands for “operating a vehicle while impaired.”

Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Paul Dibble, OVI task force coordinator, said the grant has been increased from $70,000 to $140,000 for federal fiscal year 2009. Ashtabula County ranks among the top 10 counties in the state for alcohol-related crashes. Dibble said this is a serious problem considering Ashtabula is a rural county with statistics that compare to, or exceed, those in major cities.

The OVI task force was formed in March 2008 in response to the high number of alcohol-related crashes and fatalities in the county. Several law-enforcement agencies across the county joined the task force to help address the problem, Dibble said.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol came on board with the shared goal of reducing alcohol-related crashes and fatalities. Dibble said the response has been truly remarkable. The goal of the task force is to raise public awareness and create high visibility and try to deter people from drinking and driving. Saturation patrols and numerous and frequent checkpoints enhance the likelihood of apprehending impaired drivers, giving them pause before getting behind the steering wheel, Dibble said.

“We are not targeting any business or trying to stop people from drinking,” he said. “We just don’t want them driving impaired. Checkpoint locations are determined by statistics, not by business locations.”

Dibble said local law enforcement has noticed an increase in designated drivers as well as in the use of taxis, which shows the OVI task force is making an impact.

Since March, the task force has set up 22 checkpoints, through which 4,703 vehicles passed. Of those 4,703 vehicles, the task force netted three OVI arrests for individuals under the age of 21 and 64 OVI arrests for individuals 21 and over. Task force members also issued 55 citations to individuals who were driving under suspension and 34 to people violating seat-belt and child-restraint laws, according to OVI task force statistics.

Task-force members also have seized three vehicles, arrested seven people for felonies and issued cited nine individuals for underage consumption. They also cited 11 individuals for failure to comply and made 12 arrests for possession of drug paraphernalia. They also issued 73 speeding citations and made nine arrests on outstanding warrants, according to statistics.

The average stop time at the checkpoints was only 33 seconds, Dibble said.

During the task force’s saturation patrols, 410 vehicles were diverted, netting 31 citations for driving without a license, one stolen vehicle, 26 misdemeanor arrests, 15 citations for open container, five felony drug arrests, 19 arrests for possession of marijuana, and one arrest for carrying a concealed weapon. There were also 131 other citations issued, and 534 traffic stops were conducted, according to statistics.

Agencies participating in this year’s OVI task force, according to Dibble, include OHP; the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department; Ashtabula, Conneaut, Geneva, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Jefferson, Andover, Roaming Shores and Orwell police departments; UH-Geneva Medical Center; the Ohio Traffic and Safety Office; Ohio Department of Transportation; Ashtabula County Safe Communities; and the Ohio Investigative Unit (previously known as liquor control).

The task force also received donations or assistance from Community Care Ambulance Network, Delta Railroad Construction and the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School.