(Falls Church, VA, Tuesday, December 28, 2021) – With the holidays in full swing, Virginia’s Checkpoint Strikeforce DUI and public education campaign is back with its holiday enforcement wave and 20th year of informing Virginians of the dangers of drinking and driving.

Research conducted in July 2021 shows 90% of males ages 21-35 say they have driven after having a few drinks or have been in a car with a driver who has had a few drinks. This holiday season, Checkpoint Strikeforce is back to remind Virginians of the serious consequences of drinking and driving. Thanks to efforts like Checkpoint Strikeforce, the Commonwealth has seen a year-to-date decrease of 15% in fatalities due to alcohol-related crashes.

According to the Virginia DMV, a DUI in Virginia can cost a driver anywhere between $5,000 to $20,000 in fines, lawyer fees, and car insurance rate increases. In 2020, alcohol-related crashes accounted for nearly a third of Virginia’s total traffic fatalities.

Virginia’s law enforcement agencies will participate in the holiday wave of the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign with increased saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints statewide.

Complementing the enforcement, Checkpoint Strikeforce is continuing its advertising campaign called “Act Like It.” The 30-second ad is an updated version of the spot which debuted in 2018. To address the changing environment in 2021 with COVID-19 restrictions lifted and restaurants open, the traffic safety campaign’s “man-baby” character returns to the bar, considering dangerous choices after drinking.

Background:

Checkpoint Strikeforce is part of a research-based multi-state, zero tolerance initiative designed to get impaired drivers off the roads using sobriety checkpoints and patrols along with education about the dangers and consequences of driving while impaired. Virginia’s Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign is supported by a grant from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to the nonprofit and Virginia-based Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP).