Solon Police to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint to Get Impaired Drivers Off the Road - UPDATE

UPDATE: Solon’s Sobriety Checkpoint has been cancelled due to the weather forecast for Tuesday night.

Cuyahoga County saw 32 fatal alcohol- and drug-related crashes between April 2025 and April 2026, prompting Solon Police to roll out a sobriety checkpoint paired with saturation patrols.

The Solon Police Department will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint in the City of Solon on an upcoming Tuesday, the department announced. The checkpoint is designed to detect impaired drivers before they can hurt themselves or others, and to educate the public about the dangers of drunk driving as well as drugged driving — including impairment from prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs.

Why It's Happening

Between April 1, 2025 and April 19, 2026, alcohol- and drug-related crashes accounted for 809 traffic crashes in Cuyahoga County alone. Those 809 crashes resulted in 32 fatalities and 59 serious injuries. During the same time frame, there have been over 477 OVI-related fatal crashes statewide in Ohio.

"Since impaired driving accounts for an alarming number of our region's traffic safety deaths, it is imperative that we find ways to keep impaired drivers off the roadways and, through active enforcement programs such as sobriety checkpoints, convince those who are impaired not to get behind the wheel in the first place," said Sgt. Horvath of the Solon Police Department.

How the Enforcement Works

Solon Police use a dual approach that combines sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols to combat impaired driving in the city.

At sobriety checkpoints, officers stop all vehicles entering the checkpoint — when traffic flow permits — to evaluate drivers for indications of alcohol or drug impairment. Saturation patrols involve targeted enforcement of specific areas to identify and arrest impaired drivers. Officers look for signs of impaired driving such as erratic lane changes, drifting between lanes, sudden braking, and other indicators of compromised reaction time or judgment.

Make a Plan Before You Drink

Solon Police remind residents to make smart choices if they are going to be drinking:

Designate a driver
Call a sober friend or family member
Stay at your home or a hotel
Use a rideshare service

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Solon Police Department announced it will conduct a sobriety checkpoint within the City of Solon on an upcoming Tuesday. As is standard practice, the department did not publish the exact location in advance.

Between April 1, 2025 and April 19, 2026, alcohol- and drug-related crashes accounted for 809 traffic crashes in Cuyahoga County alone, resulting in 32 fatalities and 59 serious injuries. Statewide, Ohio recorded more than 477 OVI-related fatal crashes during the same period.

At a Solon sobriety checkpoint, officers stop all vehicles entering the checkpoint when traffic flow allows, and evaluate drivers for indications of alcohol or drug impairment. The department also uses saturation patrols — targeted enforcement of specific areas — to identify and arrest impaired drivers exhibiting signs such as erratic lane changes, drifting, or sudden braking.

Solon Police encourage residents to plan ahead by designating a driver, calling a sober friend or family member for a ride, staying at home or at a hotel, or using a rideshare service. Impairment can come from alcohol, prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs, so any of those can put a driver over the legal threshold.