By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

West Chester Township Police Officer Charles Murphy watches as a volunteer helps conduct a field sobriety test exercise for police recruits Friday. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

Greater Cincinnati police have begun a crackdown on driving under the influence, just as Ohio's DUI law is about to get tougher.

In an effort to curb a rising number of alcohol-related fatalities, more than 800 Ohio police agencies on Friday joined a national campaign, "You Drink & Drive, You Lose."

Now through July 13, there will be increased public-safety messages, more DUI checkpoints and increased patrols, especially around the July Fourth holiday. For instance, Warren County Sheriff Tom Ariss has assigned 90 more hours of traffic patrol July 3-6.

"Our goal is, if you're drinking and driving, we're gonna catch you," said Lt. Michael Black, commander of the Patrol's Hamilton post in Butler County. "If you're going to be drinking at all, we don't want you driving."

Also, effective Tuesday, the state's legal limit - the blood-alcohol concentration at which a motorist is presumed impaired - will drop from 0.10 to a more stringent 0.08.

But don't get hung up on the numbers. Lt. Rick Fambro of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Columbus headquarters points out: "A person doesn't have to be at 0.08 to be charged. ...You can have a person who's at 0.04 that's impaired."

What matters, Fambro said, is whether the person appears to be impaired based on an officer's observations.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety said alcohol-related fatalities in the state rose from 350 in 2000 to 375 in 2001.

Authorities urge motorists who party to get a ride with a bus, cab or sober friend, or spend the night at the party location - and other motorists should report any signs of impaired drivers to the state DUI hot line: (800) GRAB-DUI.

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com