Sobriety Patrols Planned For Loudoun County On Friday Night

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Sobriety patrols are coming to Loudoun County on Friday evening, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office announced.

Authorities did not specify where or when the patrols would occur. 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.

“When you drink and drive, you are putting the community at risk when you get behind the wheel,” Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said. “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 an 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 percent 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.