RSSPolice crack down on holiday drinking
If you are naughty this holiday season, the consequences may turn out to be a bit more serious than just not getting any presents.
This year, local police officers are using all sorts of creative, holiday-related measures to make sure no one imbibes too much in the "spirit" of the season.
Through Jan. 2 in West Springfield, police cars will patrol neighborhoods with their blue emergency lights on in an effort to increase visibility.
"It's a novel way to increase awareness and to tell people not to drink and drive," said Fairfax County police spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell.
Police officers will also post electronic signboards and distribute flyers with safety messages throughout neighborhoods in southern Fairfax.
A little further northwest in the county, police officers from the Sully District Station began conducting alcohol stings on Thursday at several locations in Chantilly. The stings will continue throughout December.
They are part of the department's annual "Safe December" youth alcohol operation, which is conducted using county police cadets who dress in plain clothing and attempt to purchase alcohol.
Cadets enter stores and try to buy various items. If asked whether they are 21, the cadets respond with their true ages and/or dates of birth.
If asked for identification, cadets respond that they aren't carrying any. If alcohol is sold, a plain-clothes officer then takes the alcohol from the cadet and issues charges.
Police said Monday that as a result of the first sting operation, three arrests were made after visiting 23 locations.
In Herndon, police will visit local ABC liquor stores and provide merchants with special black-light pens that can be used to spot fake IDs. "We give them the pens and also provide them with a little training so they can spot fakes and not sell alcohol to minors who are not legally allowed to purchase alcohol," said Herndon police spokesman Jeff Coulter.
In another creative measure that targets underage drinking, county police will perform "Project Sticker Stock" throughout the county. The program partners police officers with high school students who place stickers on beer, wine coolers and other alcoholic beverages popular with underage drinkers in retail establishments.
"The stickers are warnings for people who might consider buying alcohol for minors," said Caldwell.