How Virginia DUI Rates Rank Among Other States

VIRGINIA — A well-established national drug testing company recently published a ranking of the states according to the rates of drunken driving, and Virginia finished near the bottom of the pack.

The findings were based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Transportation and FBI crime reports.

Virginia ranked 37th overall for drunken driving rates in 2018, with 253.4 DUI-related arrests per 100,000 people.

Other metrics cited in the report showed our state has:

• Short-term rate change in DUI arrest rate: 11.8 percent decrease from 2014-2018
• Long-term rate change in DUI arrest rate: 31.4 percent decrease from 2009-2018

In the 10-year span from 2009 to 2018, Virginia peaked in 2009 with 369.2 arrests for every 100,000 people.

The United States overall has seen the population-adjusted rate of drunken driving arrests fall by more than 35 percent since 2009. Only three states — Delaware, Washington and North Dakota — recorded an increase in DUI arrests from 2009 to 2018.

Virginia DUI Law, Safety Tips

"Last year, Virginia saw a 12 percent (12.1%) increase in alcohol-related traffic deaths on the Commonwealth's roadways. Such an increase should alarm every Virginian, as it's both disturbing and unacceptable," said Virginia State Police Col. Gary T. Settle ahead of Labor Day 2019.

According to officials, 278 died in alcohol-related crashes and 19,790 were convicted of a DUI in Virginia last year.

A survey of Virginia drivers conducted by Lake Research in July showed men ages 21 to 35 are most likely to drive after drinking. The survey found 49 percent of this age group said they've driven after having a few drinks or being driven by someone who had a few drinks. The majority of young men believe it's important to plan a safe ride home, but 57 percent said they frequently do that.

Virginia Legal Limit

A measurement of your blood alcohol is the most common way a police officer can determine whether you're legally impaired.

• 21 or Older: 0.08 percent
• Commercial drivers: 0.04 percent
• Under 21: 0.02 percent

Typical DUI Sentence for First Conviction

A typical sentence for a first-time DUI is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which means it will be on your criminal record if you are convicted. A DUI carries a $250 to $2,500 fine and up to a one-year license suspension. In addition, if you were arrested with a BAC of 0.15 percent or higher, your sentence may also include a minimum five-day jail sentence, a fine between $250 and $400 and a jail sentence of up to 30 days. Additionally, you will lose your driving privileges for one (1) year.

Ignition Interlock Device

If you've been convicted of any DUI-related offense, you are now required to install an ignition interlock device on any vehicle you own or intend to drive. You will be required to do this regardless of you BAC level or other factors.

Law enforcement offers these tips to avoid alcohol-related crashes and DUI arrests:

• Don't drink and drive.
• Plan ahead. If you are planning to drink, arrange for a designated driver, ride sharing service or taxi.
• If you are with someone who has been drinking, do not let them drive and try to arrange a sober ride for them.
• If you are hosting a party where alcohol will be served, ensure that your guests leave with a sober driver.
• While on the road, report any suspected impaired drivers by calling 911 or your local police non-emergency number.
• Communication is important. Parents should talk to their children about the dangers of impaired driving.

Adults in the United States participate in close to 130 million examples of drunken driving every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty Americans are killed in drunken driving incidents every day, according to U.S. Drug Test Centers.

South Dakota ranked as the state with the most DUI incidents during 2018, the researchers found, followed by North Dakota and Wyoming.

The state with the lowest drunken driving rate in the nation? That commendable distinction went to Delaware, with 44.3 DUI arrests per 100,000 people. The other bottom five states with the lowest rates for drunken driving arrests were Illinois, Massachusetts, Louisiana and Florida.

Men are far more likely than women to be arrested on drunken driving charges, as males accounted for nearly three in four DUI arrests in 2018, according to U.S. Drug Test Centers.

Additionally, whites accounted for 81.2 percent of DUI arrests in 2018, according to the report.

Here are the 10 states with the highest rates of DUI arrests in 2018:

1. South Dakota: 721.9 arrests per 100,000 people
2. North Dakota: 678.4 arrests per 100,000 people
3. Wyoming: 676.1 arrests per 100,000 people
4. North Carolina: 518.8 arrests per 100,000 people
5. Mississippi: 462.2 arrests per 100,000 people
6. New Mexico: 459.7 arrests per 100,000 people
7. Maine: 434.2 arrests per 100,000 people
8. Washington: 430.2 arrests per 100,000 people
9. Alaska: 429.2 arrests per 100,000 people
10. Wisconsin: 425.3 arrests per 100,000 people

The full report on drunken driving in the United States is available at USDrugTestCenters.com.