DMV News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
DMV Offices Closed on the Fourth of July
Designate a Sober Driver Before Holiday Celebration Starts
RICHMOND - All Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) customer service centers (CSCs) and DMV Selects will be closed on Wednesday, July 4, 2012 in observance of Independence Day. DMV will re-open for service on Thursday, July 5.
Customers may conduct a variety of transactions during the Fourth of July holiday, and on any day, by using www.dmvNOW.com, DMV's automated telephone service at 1-888-337-4782 or the mail.
During the Fourth of July holiday, law enforcement will be out in full force, cracking down on impaired drivers. DMV's Virginia Highway Safety Office (VAHSO) reminds Virginians to designate a sober driver before the Fourth of July celebration begins.
"To prevent a tragedy from occurring this Fourth of July holiday, do not drive after drinking any alcohol, period," said DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb, the Governor's Highway Safety Representative. "Even one drink can adversely affect a driver's reaction time and his or her ability to operate a motor vehicle. With the added traffic during the summer months, be sure to designate a sober driver before heading to your cook-out or Independence Day celebration."
In Virginia, tighter restrictions on driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol will take effect just before the holiday on July 1. An ignition interlock device will be required after one DUI conviction. Currently, the requirement for an ignition interlock is imposed after two DUI convictions or when the offender's blood-alcohol content (BAC) is 0.15 percent or above, even if it's the driver's first DUI. A Virginia driver's BAC must be below 0.08.
An ignition interlock system connects a vehicle's ignition to an analyzer that measures a driver's blood alcohol content. It prevents the ignition from starting if a driver's BAC exceeds 0.02 percent. In 2011 in Virginia, 28,162 drivers were convicted of DUI.
