DUI Checkpoints Come To Loudoun County On Super Bowl Sunday

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — DUI saturation patrols are coming to Loudoun County on Sunday, as football fans across the country celebrate Super Bowl Sunday. Officials said they hope the patrols help prevent drunken driving in the region.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office did not say where the patrols would be held. However, authorities said the checkpoints would be concentrated in areas that have had previous high rates of DUI-related arrests and crashes.

"We are committed to ensuring the public is safe while traveling along our roadways," Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said in a news release on Friday. "We want to remind residents to make smart choices, don’t drink and drive."

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles stated that alcohol-related traffic fatalities have decreased by 37 per cent in the last 30 years. However, statistics show that one in six people will be involved in alcohol-related crash in their lifetime.

In 2019, 264 of Virginia's traffic fatalities were related to alcohol, according to the DMV. Alcohol-related crashes accounted for 32 per cent of traffic fatalities across the state.

Virginia's drunken driving laws are among the harshest in the nation, the DMV said. If a driver is convicted for a first DUI offense, the minimum punishment includes a $250 fine and a revocation of the driver's license for one year. A DUI conviction can also require the installation of an ignition interlock device. Even fighting a DUI conviction can prove to be costly. According to the Virginia DMV, a DUI can cost between $5,000 and $20,000.

Across the country, 28 people die in drunken driving crashes every day, according to the DMV.

Resources are available for people who are struggling with addiction. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration operates a 24/7 hotline that can help people find resources and get the help they need.