The Delaware post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol will be operating an OVI checkpoint tonight with the aim of intercepting impaired drivers.

Troopers said that the location of the checkpoint will be announced Friday morning. They said they are legally required to keep the location a secret until the morning of the checkpoint.

The Gazette will post the location of the checkpoint as soon when it’s released on the newspaper’s website, www.delgazette.com.

“Based on provisional data, there were 312 OVI-related fatal crashes in which 346 people were killed last year in Ohio,” Lt. Kevin Knapp, commander of the Delaware post, said. “State troopers make on average of 25,000 OVI arrests each year in an attempt to combat these dangerous drivers. OVI checkpoints are designed to not only deter impaired driving, but to proactively remove these dangerous drivers from our roadways.”

Residents who plan to consume alcohol are encouraged to designate a driver or make other transportation arrangements before they drink, troopers said.

“Don’t let another life be lost for the senseless and selfish act of getting behind the wheel impaired,” troopers said in a prepared statement.

Delaware police and Delaware County Sheriff’s deputies will be providing operational support for the checkpoint.