Crime & Safety

Franconia Police Plan St. Patrick's Day DWI Checkpoint

Police with a good record of pulling over drunk drivers will be on targeted patrols

If you were planning on drinking and driving in the Franconia District today for St. Patrick's Day, you might want to change your plans. Fairfax County police officers are trying to catch drunk drivers in the district today in a variety of ways.

First, officers will set upa sobriety checkpoint somewhere in the district. Drivers passing through the checkpoints will be checked for sobriety. FCPD would not disclose the checkpoint's location.

At Wednesday's Citizen Advisory Committee meeting, Lieutenant David M. Smith said sobriety checkpoints do not always produce many arrests.

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"They are just as much public awareness as about deterrence," Smith said.

FCPD will also pay overtime for additional officers with a record of catching alleged drunk drivers to patrol the Franconia District, in "targeted patrols."

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"Is it much of a deterrence?," Smith said. "Not really. But is it productive at making arrests? Absolutely."

Smith said he has seen some officers skilled at issuing DWI citations catch up to three drivers in one night, a feat considering the time required to take the arrested driver to jail.

"Those are the kind of guys that we'll pay overtime for," he said.

Police advise picking a designated driver or calling SoberRide® at 1-800-200 TAXI (8294). SoberRide® offers free taxi rides until 4 a.m.


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