ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A number of impaired drivers were caught on local roadways during the past few days.

Over the weekend, the St. Clairsville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol conducted a sobriety checkpoint for four hours on Ohio 7. Over this period of time, the operation saw 968 vehicles pass through the checkpoint. At the end of the night, 11 arrests had been made for a variety of offenses, including operating a vehicle intoxicated, driving under suspension and open container. In addition to the checkpoint, law enforcement personnel conducted a saturation effort north and south of the actual checkpoint; during this time members of the patrol and Belmont County law enforcement were on special lookout for drivers under the influence, arresting another three people for OVI.

Setting up a sobriety checkpoint is an operation that takes a considerable amount of time and effort. The process actually begins in Columbus, where the Ohio State Highway Patrol uses data from OVI arrests to pinpoint OVI “hot spots.” From this data, law enforcement is able to determine where a checkpoint will have the most effect. From that point, it is a matter of consulting with the local departments to organize the checkpoint. Saturday’s checkpoint involved the Martins Ferry and Bridgeport police departments, the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department, Belmont County Emergency Management Agency and the Ohio Department of Transportation. Patrol Lt. James Faunda mentioned that his office has “a very good relationship with the Belmont County departments” when it comes to organizing and executing checkpoints.

Many people may wonder why law enforcement announces the checkpoints ahead of time, as that may give impaired drivers ample time to avoid the checkpoints. According to Faunda, the reason is actually twofold. The first is that law enforcement is required by the U.S. Supreme Court to give advance notice, following a 1990 ruling by the court. Police are required to advertise the checkpoints as a way to give fair notice to the community.

The other reason the checkpoints are announced is because, contrary to popular belief, the primary purpose of checkpoints is not to necessarily catch drunk drivers. Rather, the announcement of the checkpoints may actually deter drivers from traveling under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Keeping drunk drivers off the roads is actually more effective at protecting other motorists than simply catching already intoxicated drivers at the checkpoint.

Sobriety checkpoints are held throughout the year around the country. Some areas increase the frequency of checkpoints at certain times of the year, particularly on holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, when many people travel to meet family or friends. With such times also comes the increased possibility of impaired drivers, and that is what sobriety checkpoints strive to prevent.

“I’d just like to remind other motorists not to drive after drinking, and to make sure you have a designated driver. And if you are the designated driver, remember that doesn’t mean after one or two drinks yourself,” said Faunda.