A suburban man in Cleveland, Ohio said police violated his rights to free speech when they cited him for holding a sign warning motorists to turn if they wanted to avoid a drunken-driving checkpoint.

Douglas Odolecki, 43, warned motorists with the sign Friday night that said: "Check point ahead! Turn now!"

Parma police spokesman Kevin Riley said officers cited Odolecki after he refused to remove the "Turn now!" portion of the sign. Officers had previously consulted with city attorneys to determine if Odolecki violated any laws by displaying the sign, Riley said.

Odolecki plans to fight the citation for obstructing official business.

Parma police arrested him in September 2012 for having a knife in his pocket while holding the same sign. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to community service.

Charges of carrying a concealed weapon and obstructing official business were later dismissed.

Attorney John Gold is representing Odolecki for free.

Gold said police must alert the public in advance of setting up a drunken-driving checkpoint and that motorists are permitted to drive around them, which means Odolecki did nothing wrong when he held up the sign.