DELAWARE — The SAFE Delaware County Coalition is urging drivers to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” as part of a campaign aimed at preventing impaired driving.
The coalition, led by the Delaware Public Health District (DPHD), brings together local law enforcement, health care providers, schools and others to collaboratively prevent death and injury from traffic crashes, according to the department’s website.
The SAFE coalition hosted its annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign kickoff on Aug. 7 during Main Street Delaware’s Safety on Sandusky First Friday event.
“No one accidentally has to drive after drinking. No one accidentally gets behind the wheel after smoking or vaping marijuana or those THC-infused products,” Delaware County Prosecutor Melissa Schiffel said during the kickoff.
“There’s always another option: call for a ride, choose a designated driver or don’t leave where you are at,” she said. “There are so many options in 2026 that there is no excuse for driving while impaired.”
The campaign lasts from Aug. 19 through Sept. 7, including the Labor Day holiday weekend, and law enforcement agencies across Delaware County will participate in high-visibility enforcement, according to a press release from the DPHD.
Those agencies include the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Delaware Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Dublin Police Department and others.
The campaign’s purpose is to deter impaired driving and remind motorists to plan ahead, drive responsibly and help keep Delaware County roads safe for everyone, according to the release.
Schiffel emphasized that the campaign covers all impaired driving, not just drunk driving. She specifically highlighted THC-infused products, such as edibles or syrups.
Severe penalties await for impaired drivers
Delaware County Sheriff Jeff Balzer said there will be severe penalties if his deputies catch someone driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“In Delaware County, law enforcement is a team sport. All the different agencies will work together to protect people, to protect the community,” Balzer said.
“If you drive under the influence in Delaware County, we’re gonna find you and arrest you,” he said. “And I’ve got room in my jail.”
The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office has been involved with the campaign since it started more than 20 years ago.
“I think that every holiday, especially the ones in the summer, brings out more folks who care only about themselves. And so that’s why we have extra people working out there to try to look out for folks,” Balzer said.
Delaware Police Chief Adam Moore echoed Balzer’s claims, noting that deaths caused by an impaired driver are preventable and punishable by law.
In 2025, DCSO had 55 confirmed OVI cases, and there are others still being investigated or at the Prosecutors Office for review, according to DCSO Public Information Officer Tracy Whited.
