Virginia to step up traffic patrols in major effort to combat drunk driving

Gov. Ralph Northam and Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles officials joined with local and state police to preview the upcoming period of increased enforcement to combat the rise in drunk driving deaths during Labor Day weekend.

Supported by the 17th annual Checkpoint Strikeforce outreach campaign, enforcement will be stepped up Aug. 17 through Labor Day weekend. Partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement mobilization, approximately 89 law enforcement agencies—including local and Virginia State Police—will operate 94 checkpoints and 612 saturation patrols Aug. 17-Sept. 3.

Then the Strikeforce will resume periodically through target moments like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Eve, the governor said in a news release.

“Virginia is a leader in traffic safety and the work of Checkpoint Strikeforce is a critical part of our efforts,” said Northam. “The work we do over the next few months will be to save lives—plain and simple.”

According to the news release, 248 people lost their lives as a result of drinking-related incidents in 2017—which was almost 30 percent of all traffic fatalities. Another 18,701 people were convicted of a DUI in the Commonwealth and during last year’s Labor Day weekend alone, Virginia roads saw 703 alcohol-impaired traffic injuries. Checkpoint Strikeforce is the crucial joint effort between public and private partners that works to stop these fatalities through a surround-sound persuasion campaign and high-visibility enforcement to remind likely offenders to get a safe ride home.