By Sharon Turco
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A nightcap at the Capital Club in Columbus and a long drive home have led to drunken driving charges against state Sen. Louis Blessing.

An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper charged Mr. Blessing, 54, with driving under the influence and failing to drive in marked lanes after spotting him weaving out of his lane on Interstate 71 near Wilmington at 1 a.m. last Thursday, said Lt. Gary Lewis, a highway patrol spokesman.

Mr. Blessing's blood alcohol content was 0.11, just over Ohio's legal limit of 0.10.

Mr. Blessing, R-Colerain Township, said he was on his way home from Columbus and had stopped with friends at the Capital Club, where he drank three or four rum and Cokes. He does not believe he was impaired when he got behind the wheel and said he plans to fight the charge.

"It won't happen again," Mr. Blessing said. "It's never smart to drink and drive. My solution will be to not drink anymore."

"I was dumb to get in my car," he said.

A truck driver spotted Mr. Blessing's red Neon weaving across the southbound lanes of the highway and called 1-800-GRAB-DUI. "He committed several traffic violations, including going over marked lanes," Lt. Lewis said.

After stopping Mr. Blessing, the trooper smelled alcohol on his breath, Lt. Lewis said.

Mr. Blessing was taken to the highway patrol's Wilmington post, where he was cited and released without bail to get a ride home.

Under Ohio law, the first three offenses within six years are chargeable as misdemeanors, punishable by jail terms ranging from three days to one year, license suspensions of up to 10 years, and fines of up to $2,500.

E-mail sturco@enquirer.com