For Virginia Beach police, number of DUI arrests is sobering

...that brought on the inebriation, call AAA, they tow even non-members for free.

I would think that a lot of the DUI's are not always about alcohol consumption, but use of illegal substances. Some people try to disguise their drug/dope usage by drinking some alcohol to hide their symptoms like red eyes, speech impairment etc.

Then stay out of our city as it will ease the traffic congestion. Should you drive in our city, obey the signs and adhere to the States vehicle laws. Period.
Many miss the key items of the story. By enforcing traffic laws (not coming to a complete stop, improper lane change, speeding, etc.) is how the VBPD has a higher number of DUI/DWI arrests. They're not violating your 4th ammendment right or harrassing you. You broke the law and are being held accountable for your actions.
Stop with the excuses and lame attempts at shifting the blame to the city. Before you walk into a club or bar you are sober and in full possession of your faculties. You freely choose to get intoxicated. I fail to see where the city should come up with programs or services to support your poor decision...using my tax dollars!

The only people who really care about "profiling" and "entrapment" are breaking the laws. If you have nothing to hide why even care?

A drunk driver killed someone I loved and nearly killed me. 4 back surgeries later, I am reminded of it every minute of every day.

This is exactly why I avoid VB, the ease of getting a traffic violation is ridiculous, simply because if VB were to actually do something about it's real crime...they wouldn't be able to claim they're the Utopia they market to be.

I just find it funny that people from VB say the other cities should ramp up their DUI effort. I would say...nah, I'd rather them ramp up their effort on REAL crimes and murders rather wasting their time on traffic tickets and sobriety tests.

VA Beach, in as much the Commonwealth, ought to toughen up the punishment and consequences of being convicted of DUI. The numbers of DUIs that have been documented is only a portion of all DUIs that actually go on. It appears that there is not enough of incentive or deterrent to convince people not to drive a motor vehicle while intoxicated. More in the way of increased fines and stiffened penalties. Everyone knows that DUI is against the law, so ignorance is absolutely no excuse. IF someone is that ignorant, then they should not be priviledged to drive any motor vehicle. I personally feel that current state and local laws regarding DUIs reflect a mood of temperence and forgiveness - of that ignorance!!! Explain that to anyone who's been a victim of a DUI-related crash. Here is my resolution: 1st Offense - Mandatory $2000 fine, revokation of license for 90 days, 30 days in jail if involving property damage, 90 days in jail if involving damage of life, 5 minimum years in jail if involving loss of life. Secondary and beyond offenses shall be exponentially higher. Enforce the punishment, and I would say that should be a solid deterrent.

Mass transport from downtown Norfolk (and Portsmouth) to the Oceanfront and back will be great for everyone. Except maybe the transport cleaners who have to wipe up vomit on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Cheers, MGM

Here's a thought. If marijuana was legal, all these crazy drunks could stay home in a foggy haze. I'd much rather do that than going out and spending $100 drinking and possible getting a DUI or worse, killing someone. Stoned people are no threat to society.Peace.

It's always the cop's fault.
First, you don't need probable cause to stop a vehicle, you only need reasonable suspicion, it's the law, look it up.
Second, if you come to the oceanfront and park in the city lot and then drink to much, all you have to do is contact an officer and you car will not be towed. PERIOD. You don't have to drive drunk.
It is up to YOU to be responsible for YOUR actions. If you drive somewhere it is up to you to not drink way too much to drive home.
I worked the street at the oceanfront for 12 years. The drunks I arrested were always over .10 blood alcohol content. There were just way too many high BAC drunks to even mess with the .08 drunks.
It's like when I ran radar, I didn't stop people for going 5 mile over the limit. I didn't begin to pull people over until they were going more than 15 mph over the limit. And you know what? I never had to wait long and most drivers were 20mph or more over the limit.
My career and life were ruined by another drunk driver so I know from personal experience what happens when YOU drive drunk.

I think that the VBPD does a good job some of the time. What is with all the tough cops on Great Neck Rd. There isn't a lot of crime on GN rd but these guys treat people like we are drug dealing killers. I also think the VBPD lies a lot. They just make stuff up. Does anyone know what the requirements are to be VBPD? A mustache, a bad attitude, and low self esteem....lol.....just kidding if anything ever happens to me they are the first ones I'm calling God Bless ya VBPD just stayoff of Great Neck!

In all, DUI arrests made by Beach police accounted for about 9 percent of all drunken-driving arrests statewide. The city has less than 6 percent of the state population.

Man, that stat makes VB residents look bad, doesn't it?

A relevant statistic would reveal how many of those arrested were VB residents. Otherwise comparing drunk driving arrests to poulation serves no purpose.

will not solve the problem of dui's. The problem needs to be approached from all fronts, alternate transportation, overnight parking at the beach, and educating people to these alternatives as well as to the dangers of driving drunk. People will never stop drinking and going to bars. Like it or not it is a part of our society. It seems that some would like to implement mandatory death sentences for anyone driving after having one SIP of beer. Even that would not be effective. However the real solution is simple. Bring back the Volkswagen bus (make it a hybrid)... drink all you want and sleep in the back, maybe even share with someone!

What does that matter? If you're speeding, you're speeding. In my mind it doesn't matter where the radar gun sits when you're driving on public streets. The speed limit in front of my home is 25 and it's a big joke as far as I'm concerned. I would gladly allow the police to use my driveway to stop the frequent vehicles that fly by my house on a daily basis.

It's the city's fault that people are driving drunk away from the Oceanfront? Really? Don't these people know in advance that they can't leave their vehicles parked overnight there, but go anyways?

People need to be held accountable for their own actions. The city is not your parent, nor should it be your whipping boy.

when you have law enforcements teams dedicated to enforcement. Arrests and citations go up. It is indicative of effective leadership and management at each of our four precincts. They are engaged.

Citizens want enforcement of laws and criminals arrested. Ergo, we shouldn't be surprised nor react with self-righteous indignation.

Blame the individual and the action-not the officer who caught them.

Anyone arrested for DUI/DWI has no one to blame but themselves. They are accountable for their own actions.

Yes it is profiling...finding drunk drivers and getting them off the street. I don't care if they are doing 34 in a 35 MPH zone, stop them before they hurt people and create damage.

Big surprise that the VBPD is more efficient than the other cities...look at the crime stats, every aspect of the police department obviously does better than the other localities.

a young male driving the streets of Hampton Roads at 2am is an easy target for police, regardless of where you're going to. also, what troubles me is that the officer featured in the article has almost as many DUI arrests as the entire city of Norfolk. there's no way that VB is that much of a hotbed of DUI compared to Norfolk. yes, people drive impaired in both, but something tells me that the "probable cause" is something like 36 in a 35, or not using a blinker to change lanes on an empty VB Blvd. another troubling tidbit....VA police are allowed to set up speed traps on private property. so they can park in a car dealership lot and the ticket they give is perfectly legal. in other states.....entrapment. gotta keep those revenues comin in though. especially now that summer is over and bleeding the tourists is out of season.

You have to got be kidding me. I doubt the police can even do that. I don't believe there's a stereotypical drunk. I live on 19th street at the beach. I have sat on my porch and watched cars hit parked cars, signs, mailboxes, etc. and all before midnight by all ages and races! I have had numerous plants and things from my porch stolen, have watched stumbling people (men) relieve themselves next to homes and at the city treasurer's office on their way to and from the oceanfront at night. I have had to call the police and ask them to remove passed-out drunks from my front lawn. People have no conscience when they overindulge. If you want to go clubbing and can't stay legally sober, then make arrangements to get yourself home. Be responsible for yourself. Period.

I do it all the time...haven't had a wreck yet! As was said below, how about the real stats? How many were even below the .08, but in the cops' judgement were "impaired" and taken in? How many were actually convicted on reduced charges or not convicted at all? Bull-GaGa!

I personally know a girl that left a bar in VB and within a block realized she shouldn't be driving. She pulled off the roadway, put her hazards on, and called her mom (who lived about 10 minutes away) to come pick her up. Pretty responsible right? Before her mom could get there a VB officer pulled in behind her. She explained that she had just left a bar, realized she shouldn't be driving, and was waiting for her mom to pick her up. When her mom did get there (about 10 minutes later) the officer was having my friend perform field sobriety tests, which she failed. He arrested her for DUI with her mom there hoping to take her home. Where is the common sense? Apparently they uninstall it when you go through the VBPD academy. If you find yourself in this similar situation- take your keys out of the ignition! Even if it's 30 degrees outside and you want to run the heater to stay warm, don't! Take the keys out of the ignition!

Is it any surprise that you have more DUI arrests in Va Beach? There is a bar on every corner down on the strip. What does everyone think they are selling? Pepsi? Only if it's mixed with some booze.
I also wonder how many were at the .08 alcohol content and how many were 1.6 or higher? I'm not trained as a cop but even I could sit in my car outside of a bar on any night in the summer, and I could catch just as many so called "DUI" drivers. This does not show me that the VB Police are so good at their job, it shows they are lazy and just nabbing the easy catches.
I do not condone DUI, I never, never do it, and I retired after 30 years as a Firefighter/Paramedic, and have seen my share of the aftermath. But .08 as being drunk? I do not think so !

If you are stupid enough to drink enough to place you into this position you have nobody to blame but yourself for getting behind the wheel. Virginia Beach has always had a hard core stance on drunk drivers, one other Hampton Roads cities are in need of following.

Not being a perfect driver, one of my weaknesses is not DUI. I have no sympathy for these people who do drive while drunk/drinking. I give the police a pat on the back for their efforts.

More bad reporting. How about some real stats like how many where at the ridiculously low neo-prohibition 0.08 and how many were at the dangerous 0.11 and up? Arresting a bunch of people that weren't really causing a problem isn't exactly something I'd proudly announce.

It always interest me how so many people find/make excuses for people unlawful behavor.

It doesn't matter who you are or where you live, if you drink and drive you SHOULD be arrested. If you blow/test over the very generous BAC, you should have your driving privliges suspended for a minimum of five years, serve mandatory jail time, be heavily fined and serve lengthy community service. Consequences for DUI are just NOT tough enough.
Virginia Beach deserves accolades for their attention to DUI driving. But even with concentrated effort, guess what? You still only popped a small percentage of the drunk drivers. I know people that drink all day, every day and drive drunk every day but have not gotten caught. Maybe that is because they don't live in Virginia Beach??
Driving while intoxicated is always the wrong decision. There is no acceptable excuse. Kudos to Virginia Beach for bearing down on DUI drivers. IMHO, their efforts should be stepped up and other cities should follow suit.

The real measure of success is the conviction rate for DUI. That part was left out. Do the courts convict? Is the evidence presented by police enough? Anybody can be arrested for DUI if they have hint of alcohol on their breath, but is it enough for a conviction?

Norfolk Police! I'm sooo tired of people speeding up and down this street, throwing beer bottles and cans into my yard. PLEASE be a presence this weekend, and you too can issue many tickets for drunk driving. Consider setting up a checkpoint at the end of Bayview near Ocean View at the flashing light! You'll probably round up a few gang members as well, since they are taking over the street in their colored head rags, and people are afraid to let their children and grandkids play in the front yards! Try Friday between 9-12 p.m. and Saturday anytime!

Well done to the VA Beach police. Now if we could just make sure that people who are convicted of DUI don't ever get behind the wheel of a car again. Drinking and then driving is a willful act that puts the lives of everyone else on the road at risk. Perhaps a lifetime suspension of driving previlges, a 10,000.00 fine and 100 weekends of picking up trash (8 hours Saturday and 8 Hours Sunday) on the streets of our cities would have some deterrent effect. In 2006 347 people died in car accidents where the BAC was >0.08. It is time to stop this madness.