Sobriety Checkpoint Planned For Loudoun County On Friday Night: Police

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A DUI sobriety checkpoint is coming to Loudoun County on Friday evening, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.

In their news release announcing the checkpoint, the sheriff's office said the checkpoint would begin around 9 p.m., but they did not say where in the county the checkpoint would take place.
In the past, Loudoun County officials have said that DUI checkpoints and patrols are concentrated in areas where previous DUI-related crashes and arrests have occurred.

“Our goal is to ensure the roads are safe for all motorists,” Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said. “The checkpoints are designed to discourage impaired driving and we are asking drivers to make the smart choice, 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.