DUI Saturation Patrol Set For Friday Night In Loudoun County

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office warned drivers that the agency will have saturation patrols out Friday night, Dec. 18, to target drunken drivers. The crackdown on impaired driving in the county begins at 7 p.m.

“We want to remind residents to make the smart choice, never drink and drive,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman, in a news release.

Deputies conducting a DUI saturation patrol concentrate enforcement in areas that have high incidences of drunken-driving related arrests and crashes, the department said.

The sheriff's office conducts sobriety checkpoints regularly and always announces them the day of the checkpoint, although it does not specify the location.

A regular sobriety checkpoint is done at one location with deputies standing out of their vehicle and making contact with drivers that come through the checkpoint. A saturation patrol means that deputies are in their cruisers and are patrolling the area. Deputies are searching for traffic violations that could indicate impaired driving.

During a traffic stop, a deputy would then check for any signs of impairment and conduct further investigation if it is believed the driver is intoxicated.

According to AAA, saturation patrols can be as effective, or more effective than sobriety checkpoints in catching alcohol-impaired drivers who often evade checkpoints. Many police departments favor them over sobriety checkpoints for their effectiveness, reduced staffing requirements, and the comparative ease of operating saturation patrols.