A DUI Public Reporting Program: 1-800-GRAB-DUI

The Ohio State Highway Patrol started this toll-free hotline in 1991 to encourage the public to report drunk drivers and people who continue to drive despite convictions and license suspensions for impaired driving. In 1993, they added a cellular DUI system that provides free air time and allows motorists with a cell phone to dial *DUI to report DUIs and other roadside emergencies. From August 1, 1991, through September 30, 2001, 55,438 calls were received via 1-800 GRAB DUI and *DUI reporting lines. During the same time period, all enforcement efforts in the state, including the 1-800-GRAB-DUI, resulted in 17,399 habitual DUI offender arrests (Ohio defines habitual offenders as those with five or more DUI convictions). The highway patrol considers it to be an effective method to remove repeat offenders from the streets.