The Ohio County Sheriff's Department issued hundreds of traffic citations during a speed limit enforcement operation last week.
The department took advantage of a Highway Safety Speed Enforcement Grant to pay overtime wages for extra deputy patrols to enforce speed limits on Interstates 70 and 470, as well as W.Va. 2 and county roads April 23 through Wednesday.
According to Sheriff Pat Butler, deputies made 360 traffic stops and issued 323 citations. Most of the drivers were cited for speed, Butler said, but other offenses included driving without a license or with a suspended license and defective equipment. Deputies issued 120 warnings.
Butler said the speeds at which some offenders were traveling showed flagrant disregard for the posted speed limits. Two motorists were cited for traveling 90 mph or faster, he said, while numerous drivers were clocked in the 80s.
Two individuals were arrested for felony offenses, and 12 more were either arrested or cited for misdemeanors.
Deputies also recovered 25 illegal prescription pills, 58 grams of marijuana, 1 gram of crack cocaine and 1.5 grams of powder cocaine.
Butler thanked Wheeling police Officer and Highway Safety Coordinator and Traffic Commander Neil Fowkes.
