Sobriety Checkpoint Comes To Woodbridge On Monday Night

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A sobriety checkpoint is coming to Woodbridge on Monday night, the Prince William County Police Department said.

Authorities said the sobriety checkpoint would run from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Authorities did not provide a specific location for the checkpoints, but they noted that it would be in the county's central district, which includes Dale City and Lake Ridge.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles stated that alcohol-related traffic fatalities have decreased by 37 percent in the last 30 years. However, statistics show one in six people will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lifetime.

In 2019, 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.

Fighting a DUI charge 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.