McDonnell Launches Statewide Crackdown To Reduce Alcohol-Related Incidents
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(Thursday) September 2, 2010
Today, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell led law enforcement officers from across the Commonwealth in kicking off the 2010 Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign at the Virginia State Police Academy. During the event he called attention to significant progress achieved over the past decade but noted that additional work must be done – particularly with regard to protecting the very individuals who keep Virginia highways safe. Just since July 1, 2010, three Virginia State Police troopers have been struck by drunk drivers.
In 2009, fewer individuals (316) were killed on Virginia highways due to alcohol than in any year since 1997. Last year also saw fewer injuries (6,256) on Virginia roads than in any year since 1984. The Governor and public safety officials credited this progress to the combination of effective public education and targeted enforcement.
“I got my start in public service in the Commonwealth as a prosecutor and was honored to serve as Attorney General. Public safety is a top priority for me and law enforcement across Virginia, and this includes cracking down on drunk driving,” said McDonnell. “We’ve made enormous progress in protecting Virginians from the dangers of drunk driving. However, we still have much work to do. Virginia’s law enforcement and motorists still must continue to work together towards making our roads even safer.”
As part of the Checkpoint Strikeforce program, Virginia’s law enforcement community is out in force, looking for drunk drivers. Last year, 36,718 individuals were arrested for DUI across the state, resulting in 31,434 DUI convictions – an average of one conviction every 17 minutes.
To assist with the 2010 Checkpoint Strikeforce kickoff, Virginia law enforcement agencies are joining with neighboring states Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia in a border-to-border effort over the Labor Day holiday. Fourteen traffic fatalities occurred statewide during the four-day holiday last year, nearly twice the amount from the previous year.
The region-wide Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign combines stepped-up law enforcement efforts and proactive public education to promote a multijurisdictional effort in the fight against drunk driving. A significant multi-media campaign, encompassing radio and television, will run nearly 34,500 ads on a total of 96 broadcast stations, cable systems and radio stations in Virginia between August and December. Additionally, targeted internet advertising is expected to garner approximately five-million impressions over the course of the campaign.
In addition to the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign, the Virginia State Police will engage in the annual Operation C.A.R.E. traffic enforcement campaign. The Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort is a state-sponsored, national program designed to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries caused by speeding, impaired driving and failure to use occupant restraints. As a participating agency, Virginia State Police will increase visibility and traffic enforcement efforts throughout the Commonwealth beginning Friday morning, September 3, 2010, at 12:01 a.m. and continuing through midnight Monday, September 6, 2010.