Sobriety Checkpoint Comes To Dumfries On Wednesday Evening

DUMFRIES, VA — A DUI checkpoint is coming to Dumfries on Wednesday night. The Prince William County Police Department said they would run the sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Authorities did not specify the exact area of Wednesday's checkpoint, but they said it would be in the eastern district of the county, which includes Dumfries. The Prince William County Police department regularly conducts checkpoints throughout the county in an effort to discourage drunken driving among residents.

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.