“Most of the meetings with people are positive,” said Trooper Todd Mullins, who works as a member of the Ohio Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection team. “A lot of people are really appreciative we’re checking the vehicle.”
The team typically inspects school and church buses but conduct random roadside inspections as time permits.
Tuesday troopers inspected vehicles on U.S. 68 near Ohio 235 in Greene County. Monday they conducted inspections in Montgomery County on Yankee Road near Interstate 675 in Washington Twp.
“Fall and spring time is probably the busiest time for our road side checks,” Mullins said.
Rebecca Rubin, of Xenia, was one of about 15 drivers pulled off the side of the road in Greene County Tuesday.
“I think it’s easy. It takes less than three minutes and it’s fine,” said Rubin, whose Subaru passed the inspection. “I feel great. It’s a 10-year-old car, so I’m glad it’s safe.”
Last year the patrol conducted 375 motor vehicle inspections across Clark, Greene, Miami and Montgomery Counties. The inspections take troopers a few minutes to complete and drivers are selected at random to undergo the vehicle check. Patrol officers check tire tread, horn, wipers and lights.
“They just checked my vehicle to see if there were any kinds of deficiencies,” said Hernan Erazo, who is employed by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and had his vehicle checked at the Greene County checkpoint. “It feels a little uneasy I suppose. I just don’t expect a checkpoint in the middle of the road.”
According to Mullins, drivers who pass the inspection are given an adhesive decal to display in the front windshield of their vehicle. The decal is valid for a year and if the same driver is pulled over at another inspection site, they are able to continue without undergoing the safety check.
Orange signs are posted before drivers approach the assigned safety inspection locations to alert them to the checks, but not all drivers are required to participate and troopers select them at random, Mullins said.
About the Author