These Police Officers Had an Issue With What One Man’s Sign Said Ahead of a Checkpoint — and They Ticketed Him for It

An Ohio man was ticketed last week for advising drivers to turn away from a DUI checkpoint by displaying a sign warning them that there was one setup ahead.

"Checkpoint Ahead! Turn Away!" Doug Odolecki's sign read.

An Ohio man was cited last week for warning drivers to turn away form a DUI checkpoint. (Image source: Screen grab via WJW-TV)

The 43-year-old, who helps run a website aimed at exposing supposed cases of police abuse, stood at an intersection with his sign.

"I go anywhere Greater Cleveland calls," Odolecki, who captured his run-in with police last Friday on camera, told WJW-TV

"You're gonna be cited," one officer warned him, asking him to stop advising drivers to turn around.

[sharequote align="center"]"You're gonna be cited."[/sharequote]

Odolecki, who told WJW he doesn't support drunk driving and is just protesting against what he thinks is an abuse of power, didn't give in to the officer's demands.

“It is a Nazi-esque style checkpoint. It is a papers-please type checkpoint. These guys are not out there for your safety or anything like that, so if you think that, think again,” he said.

Officers said the sign was okay, but objected to the "turn now" phrase, contending it obstructed official police business, WJW reported. The man was eventually given a citation.

“Our sobriety checkpoint is all about educating the public,” an officer claims on the video. “And we need them to come through the checkpoint to educate them.”

Odolecki told WJW he plans to fight the citation and eventually return to the streets to continue warning drivers.

“You’re supposed to be protected against illegal searches and seizures. You’re supposed to be protected against just being harassed and stopped every time the police see you,” he said.

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