Holiday DUI Patrols Start In Arlington

ARLINGTON, VA — This holiday season, the Arlington County Police Department is participating in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s "Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over" campaign to remind motorists about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Starting Dec. 13 and going through New Year's Eve, Arlington police will be increasing the number of patrols, setting up roadblocks and using local media to reach out to all drivers.

The Arlington County Police Department encourages you to follow these tips to keep the holidays safe and happy:

• Even one drink can impair your judgment and increase the risk of getting arrested for driving drunk—or worse, the risk of having a crash.
• If you will be drinking, do not plan on driving. Plan ahead and designate a sober driver before the party begins.
• If you have been drinking, do not drive. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, use public transportation or request a ride share.
• The Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s 2017 Holiday SoberRide program is offering free rides home, in partnership with Lyft, from Friday, December 15, 2017 until Monday, January 1, 2018, nightly between 8:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. During this campaign, three single use promo codes will be issued for use in the Lyft app. Each code is valid for up to $15 off one ride taken in Lyft’s Washington, D.C. coverage area.

According to NHTSA, 37,461 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes nationwide in 2016 and 28% (10,497) of those fatalities occurred in crashes where the driver had a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit of 0.08. That same year, 781 people lost their lives in drunk-driving-related crashes in the month of December alone.

If you see a drunk driver on the road, call the police right away. If someone you know is about to drive after drinking, take their keys and help them get home safely.

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