You can be arrested on a driving under the influence charge anywhere you drive and at any time of the year. However, there are certain locations and parts of the year that attract extra attention from law enforcement. Summer beach season and holiday party time often bring additional DUI patrols.
In the period around Labor Day, Virginia activates the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign statewide, which includes police cooperation with local groups such as Drive Safe Hampton Roads. During this period, drivers in the area might see saturation patrols and additional sobriety checkpoints, raising the likelihood of a drunk-driving arrest.
Motorists in the Hampton Roads area should be particularly aware of enhanced DUI enforcement because injuries caused by alcohol-related accidents rose by 13 percent in Chesapeake and almost 19 percent in Virginia Beach during 2025. Mary Ann Raymond of Drive Safe Hampton Roads notes that due to the region’s military installations, there is a large number of men aged 18 to 34 on local roads. Individuals within this the group are most likely to be accused of driving while intoxicated.
Even during enhanced DUI enforcement campaigns, police still must honor motorists’ Constitutional rights. If you have been charged with drunk driving it is possible that the arresting officer lacked proper legal grounds. Pulling over a vehicle requires a reasonable, articulable suspicion of illegal activity. A mere hunch based on a driver’s age or the time of year is not enough. Evidence collected as a result of an improper stop or arrest, even a test indicating the motorist was intoxicated, can be excluded if there was no legitimate legal foundation.
Contact a qualified Virginia DUI defense attorney promptly as soon as possible after an arrest. Early counsel can challenge probable cause, checkpoint compliance, field sobriety testing, and breath or blood evidence.
Hunter Law Firm provides strong defense representation for Virginians charged with driving under the influence. Our attorneys will protect your rights and identify potential problems with the prosecutor’s case. We have offices in Newport News, Hampton, Chesapeake and Gloucester. Please call 757-825-0400 or contact us online for a consultation.
