NORFOLK, Va. — Local officials and law enforcement are showing their support on Wednesday for Virginia’s 18th annual Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign.
The campaign focuses on the increased visibility of law enforcement on Virginia roads to combat alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities. During the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign, partners are mobilizing across the Commonwealth to arrest drunk drivers and save lives.
In addition to the high visibility enforcement and anti-drunk driving efforts, there will be an ad campaign to remind Virginians to act responsibly and find a safe ride home.
Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorney Colin Stolle said last year nearly 20,000 Virginians were convicted of drinking and driving.
“Sixty-five percent were males from the age of 21 to 35 and that’s part of the reason why this campaign is trying to target that demographic," said Stolle.
Stolle said there are a lot of possible repercussions from a DUI.
"You're looking at having to pay to have an ignition interlock placed on your vehicle, having your driver's license suspended, paying fines up to $2,500, going to jail for up to one year," said Stolle.
This statewide traffic safety campaign begins just ahead of the end of the summer holiday, Labor Day. That's when drunk driving is the cause of nearly half of the crashes that kill young drivers, and continues through the end of 2019.
The director of DMV's highway safety office, John Saunders said the launch is vital to keep people alive.
"We are coming up on the holiday season with Labor Day weekend, which has historically shown to be a time that we have had a lot of tragedy on our roadways. Last year we had 278 alcohol-related fatalities across the state," said Saunders.
At a press conference Wednesday at the Norfolk Police Department Third Precinct, the heightened DUI enforcement efforts in the Hampton Roads area were announced.
At the press conference, Suffolk Major James Buie broke down the alcohol numbers officers saw last year.
"The average blood alcohol concentration of tested drinking drivers in 2018 was 0.147, this is almost twice the legal limit," said Buie.
The legal limit is 0.08.
Buie said that even if a driver doesn't hit a checkpoint, it doesn't mean they won't get caught.
"I assure you that if you drink and drive and try to get behind the wheel, you are going to see blue lights behind you," said Buie.
Speakers at the event included Colin Stolle, Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorney; James Buie, Major Suffolk Police; John Saunders, Director of Highway Safety for the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles; Kurt Erickson, President, Virginia-based Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP).
Click here to learn more about the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign.