DUI

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

DUI Checkpoint on Columbia Pike — As promised, Arlington County Police (and the Sheriff’s Office) conducted a DUI checkpoint on Friday night. The checkpoint was set up near the intersection of Columbia Pike and George Mason Drive. Some 400 vehicles passed through and one DUI arrest was made, according to police.

Arlington’s Bikeshare Strategy — Arlington is currently in the process of creating a six-year strategic plan for the continued growth and utilization of Capital Bikeshare in the county. The plan is expected to be presented to the public in June. An initial draft of the plan includes some data from 2011: the county’s cost per Bikeshare trip ($8.18), average Bikeshare trips per day in Arlington (166 — though Bikeshare didn’t expand into North Arlington until April), and percentage of female Bikeshare members (42 percent). [TBD]

Urban Agriculture in Arlington — County officials plan to establish and appoint members to a new “Arlington Urban Agriculture Task Force” next month. Among other assignments, the task force is expected to focus on a proposal to allow residents to keep egg-laying hens in their backyards. Hen advocates from the Arlington Egg Project recently gave a presentation to the Arlington County Republican Committee and were reportedly well-received by supporters of GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul. [Sun Gazette]

Flickr pool photo by Mark C. White

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

First Day of Fall, Flash Flood Watch — Today is officially the first day of fall, but it’s not going to feel like it. A storm system bringing tropical moisture to the area will provide warm temperatures and heavy rains that may produce flash flooding. [Capital Weather Gang]

Reminder: DUI Checkpoint Tonight — As part of a national DUI crackdown, Arlington County Police will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint somewhere in the county tonight.

What If Arlington Was Part of D.C.? — The Washington City Paper wonders aloud: What would the District look like had Arlington and Alexandria not been retroceded back to Virginia? The move, which would place part of North Arlington in Northwest D.C. and the rest in Southwest D.C., would add 252,000 registered voters, 56 public and charter schools, and 44 Starbucks locations to the District. [Washington City Paper]

Fisette to Be Honored for HIV Outreach — County Board member Jay Fisette will be honored by the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry as its 2011 Honoree at the organization’s Red Ribbon Gala next month. “NOVAM is proud to honor a well-known community leader who is a strong community advocate for HIV prevention and care for nearly 25 years,” the group said. [Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry]

ACFD Captain Retiring — Arlington County Fire Department Captain Ed Hannon is retiring after 28 years. As he was recounting his years of experience during a TV interview, Hannon’s colleagues decided to pull a prank: they sneaked up from behind and smeared his face with whipped cream as cameras rolled. [MyFoxDC]

Woman Charged With DUI in Police Car Crash

By ARLnow.com

A 21-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated in a July crash that seriously injured an Arlington County police officer.

At 2:20 a.m. on July 20, the officer was responding to a call in Ballston when his police cruiser collided with another vehicle at N. Glebe Road and Washington Boulevard. The officer was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Even now, he’s “still in and out of the hospital,” according to police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal.

Today police announced that Arlington resident Kathryn Grace Kron, 21, has been arrested in connection with the accident. Kron is charged with Driving While Intoxicated, DWI Maiming and Possession of a Schedule II Drug, according to police. She is currently out on bond.

“Anyone who has additional information about this accident is asked to contact Detective P. Mulvaney at (703) 228-4239,” police said in a statement. “Witnesses can also call the Arlington Police Tip-Line at (703) 228-4242.”

On Facebook, an Arlington resident named Kathryn Kron is listed as a Yorktown High School graduate.

Photo courtesy Arlington County Police Department

‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ on Friday

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Police and the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint on Friday as part of a national DUI crackdown.

The checkpoint will be set up at an undisclosed location in the county.

“Officers will stop all vehicles passing through the checkpoint and ask to see the licenses of drivers,” police said in a press release. “Any driver suspected of operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be directed to a safe area off the roadway for further observation and possible testing for intoxication.”

“This enforcement effort, called ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ is in support of U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) National crackdown program on drunk driving that focuses on combining high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity,” police said.

The maximum penalty for a first DUI conviction in Virginia is 12 months in jail, a $2,500 fine and a 12-month suspension of driving privileges.

Prom-Bound Wakefield Students Learn About DUI Risks

By ARLnow.com

Wakefield High School held its annual Prom Promise anti-drunk-driving event today, but it was a bit different than years past.

Instead of a large indoor assembly with PowerPoint slides, a speaker and staged demonstrations, the police department decided to take things outside. Groups of students lined up to try their hand at driving golf carts around a cone course while wearing “drunk goggles.”

“This year I wanted to do something that’s more interactive, where all the kids get to participate,” said Cpl. Kyle Anderson, who helped to organize the event.

With the goggles simulating the distorted sense of reality and slowed reaction time of 3-5 drinks, students invariably found themselves driving slower than usual and, often, veering well off-course.

“It’s not to train them how to drive drunk,” Anderson said. “It’s to give them an idea just how bad they drive when they have a drink.”

Anderson said prom promise is held this time of year because teens are “statistically more likely to get into DUI situation” around prom and graduation season. Golf carts for the simulation were donated by Army Navy Country Club.

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Officer Struck While Investigating Deadly Accident on Key Bridge

By ARLnow.com

A D.C. police officer was struck by a car while investigating a deadly accident on the Key Bridge last night.

According to NBC 4, a person who was walking a moped across the Key Bridge was struck and killed by an SUV that then fled the scene. The officer was on the bridge investigating the accident when he was struck from behind by another vehicle.

The driver that hit the officer stayed on the scene and the SUV driver was later stopped in Maryland, NBC 4’s Tracee Wilkins reported. Both drivers are suspected of driving under the influence.

Initial reports suggest the officer briefly lost consciousness after being thrown into the striking vehicle’s windshield. He’s expected to be okay.

Arlington Police Plan DUI Checkpoint, Patrols This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

On Saturday, Arlington police will send the message that “buzzed driving is drunk driving.”

Together with the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police, Arlington Police will set up a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location in the county. All cars passing through the checkpoint will be stopped, and drivers suspected of operating a vehicle while intoxicated will be asked to pull to the side to perform further sobriety testing.

In addition to the checkpoint, police say they will be adding extra DUI saturation patrols for the remainder of the holiday season.

In Virginia, the maximum penalty for a first DUI conviction is 12 months in jail, a $2,500 fine and a 12-month suspension of driving privileges.

Arlington Police Make St. Paddy’s Day DUI Arrests

By ARLnow.com

Arlington bars, including Ireland’s Four Courts, McGinty’s and RiRa, were packed last night. Arlington police, meanwhile, were well-prepared for the inevitable few revelers who decided to drink and drive.

After deploying extra patrols and a DUI checkpoint, Arlington police say they made at least seven DUI arrests yesterday. Four of the arrests were made at the checkpoint, according to police.

To Do Tonight: Wear the Green

By ARLnow.com

Whether you’re Irish or not, there’s something special about St. Patrick’s Day. The green attire and green beer seems to go hand-in-hand with the greener grass and warmer weather.

No matter where you live in Arlington, there are plenty of options for going out and celebrating with a pint or three.

If you are going to participate in the traditional St. Paddy’s Day drinking ritual, you’ll also have plenty of options for getting back home safely. Designate a driver, take Metro, or call a free cab from the SoberRide program at 1-800-200-TAXI (8294). Red Top Cab is among the taxi companies participating in the SoberRide program.

If you’re still thinking about driving, consider this: Arlington police will be stepping up patrols and establishing a DUI checkpoint tonight.