Patrol saw less activity during COVID

SANDUSKY — State troopers in Erie and Ottawa counties pulled over several thousand fewer vehicles in 2020 compared to the year prior. Statistics released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol's posts in Sandusky and Milan echo a similar trend among local law enforcement showing a reduction in enforcement activity in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. Stops resulting in a ticket dropped to 9,416 in 2020 from 13,999 in 2019, according to data provided by the patrol. Traffic stops not resulting in a ticket also decreased, from 18,475 in 2019 to 14,574 in 2020. That's likely due to fewer people on the road during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lt. Brett Gockstetter, commander of the Sandusky post, said. Gockstetter said the overall downturn in activity was unusual. "Last year was definitely impacted by COVID," he said. "(I'll have) spent 23 years here in October, and I've never seen anything like that. I don't think anyone has." Gockstetter said one statistical area that increased in 2020 was the amount of people speeding more than 100 mph. Similarly, aggressive driving complaints increased slightly in 2020. So far in 2021, the local patrol posts are starting to return to typical levels of activity. "Things are getting back to normal," Gockstetter said. Statistics Enforcement stops (stops resulting in a ticket) • 2019: 13,999 • 2020: 9,416 • Difference: 4,583 fewer Non-enforcement stops (stops not resulting in a ticket) • 2019: 18,475 • 2020: 14,574 • Difference: 3,901 fewer Speeding violations • 2019: 10,682 • 2020: 7,468 • Difference: 3,214 fewer All traffic crashes • 2019: 3,179 • 2020: 2,838 • Difference: 341 fewer Aggressive drivers • 2019: 1,017 • 2020: 1,187 • Difference: 170 more Distracted drivers • 2019: 151 • 2020: 275 • Difference: 124 more Failure to yield citations • 2019: 678 • 2020: 270 •Difference: 408 fewer Driving under the influence of alcohol charges • 2019: 384 • 2020: 234 • Difference: 150 fewer Other facts • In both 2019 and 2020, five roads in the county had the highest trooper activity. Listed in order from the top, they are Interstate 80 (Ohio Turnpike), Ohio 2, U.S. 250, U.S. 6 and Ohio 4. • In 2019, the two days of the week with the most car crashes were Friday (522 crashes) and Monday (479 crashes). In 2020, the two days with the most crashes were Friday (459) and Saturday (424). • Rush hour: In both 2019 and 2020, about one-third of all crashes occurred between 2-6 p.m. Source: Sandusky and Milan posts, Ohio State Highway Patrol