Drug offenses top road arrests in Ohio

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Ohio State Highway Patrol officials have released new statistics revealing that 47 percent of felony arrests in 2011 were for drug-related offenses.

The numbers are credited to troopers "looking beyond the license plate" and detecting suspicious activity during routine traffic stops. Numbers show that 74 percent of the 3,573 felony traffic stops are credited to this increased awareness.

Additionally, there were 6,137 drug arrests in 2011, of those, 2,885 were felony arrests. These numbers constitute 47 percent of all felony arrests for 2011.

Through April of 2012, troopers have made 1,407 felony arrests which is a 17 percent increase from last year.

Drivers are encouraged to report suspicious activity or impaired driving by dialing #677.

For complete statistics, visit www.statepatrol.ohio.gov .