DUI Checkpoints, Patrols Come To Loudoun County On Friday Night

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — DUI patrols are coming to Loudoun County on Friday night as residents start to celebrate the Independence Day weekend, police said. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is urging residents to drink responsibly and use a designated driver.

In their news release announcing the checkpoint, the sheriff's office did not specify what time the sobriety checkpoint would begin or where in the county they would take place. Authorities said the patrols would focus on areas where previous DUI-related arrests or crashes occurred.

"We are committed to ensuring the public is safe while traveling along our roadways," Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said. "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.

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