DUI Crackdown in Virginia for Super Bowl Sunday

Ready for the Super Bowl? Heading to a party? Virginia State Police are coming up with their own game plan for "Trooper Bowl," stepping up patrols to keep the region's highways safe during the big event and through Monday morning.

The Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots will face off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in Houston. It will be televised on FOX.

Trooper Bowl will be conducted throughout the region, with Virginia State Police increasing their manpower and patrols in order to safeguard area highways from impaired and reckless drivers, Virginia State Police announced Monday.

“Super Bowl Sunday is a day of celebration, but we want to remind fans enjoying the big game to celebrate safely and responsibly,” said Captain James E. De Ford Sr., Virginia State Police Fairfax Division Commander. “Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is never a smart play, which is why our troopers will be out specifically patrolling for impaired drivers.”

On average, during a single football game, three people will die as a result of drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2015, 10,265 people nationwide lost their lives in drunk driving crashes.

If you plan to drink, then plan to get home safely, Virginia State Police warns; the police offer the following tips if you're planning to party:

• 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, make a plan ahead of time. Designate a sober driver before the party begins.
• If you have been drinking, do not drive. Call a taxi or rideshare service such as Lyft or Uber, phone a sober friend or family member, or just stay put.

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