Sobriety Checkpoint Comes To Central Prince William County On Thursday Evening

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — A sobriety checkpoint will be held in Prince William County on Thursday evening, according to the Prince William County Police Department. The checkpoint will be conducted from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Authorities did not specify the exact area of Tuesday's checkpoints, but they said it would be in the central district of the county. The police department's central district includes Dale City, Lake Ridge, Occoquan, and parts of eastern Manassas.

The Prince William County Police department regularly conducts checkpoints throughout the county in an effort to discourage drunken driving among residents.

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.