By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BATAVIA - The Ohio State Highway Patrol, along with local law enforcement, will conduct a sobriety checkpoint today in Clermont County.

"Officers will be vigilant in detecting and apprehending impaired drivers," said Lt. Paul Hermes, who heads the state patrol's Batavia post.

Such checkpoints are held periodically throughout the Tristate and are considered useful in curbing drunk drivers and accidents.

Last month, a six-hour sobriety check along a Warren County road resulted in 16 drunken-driving arrests.

State troopers based at the Lebanon post along with police officers from Franklin and the Warren County Sheriff's Department participated.

Location to be announced

Hermes said the location in Clermont County would be announced this morning.

He said that on the average when these kinds of checkpoints are used in Clermont, about six drivers are arrested.

"We want to impress upon those who will be consuming alcohol to plan for a designated driver or to make other arrangements," Hermes added.

"And, a designated driver doesn't mean someone who is sober. It means someone who hasn't had alcohol at all."

E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com