A 43% uptick in arrests for intoxicated driving across Arlington last year likely was due, at least in part, to increased enforcement efforts.
“Our midnight [shift] folks really focused on driving while intoxicated to make sure that we’re keeping our roads safe,” Police Chief Andy Penn told Arlington County Civic Federation delegates on June 9.
Arrests of adults for driving under the influence totaled 421 in 2025, up from 295 a year before, Penn said in discussing recently released 2025 crime data. He said the department is seeking to get the word out about increased enforcement, hoping it deters drivers from taking a chance.
“I’m going to highlight it through the year as I go out and talk to people, because that is dangerous,” Penn said of the level of drunk driving. “I hope it levels out this year.”
He said a majority of arrests involve alcohol rather than prescription medication or recreational drugs.
Driving while intoxicated is part of the “Part B” category of crimes reported through the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System. Others in that category include disorderly conduct, liquor-law violations and trespassing.
All told, Group B adult arrests in Arlington rose 20.3% from 1,262 in 2024 to 1,518 in 2025. In 2024, the total had been 1,162, including 315 DUI arrests.
While not as major as crimes classified by the FBI as Group A, those in Group B do have the attention of ACPD, Penn said.
“We spend a lot of time looking at what’s happening, where it’s happening and how we use the resources we have to try and combat it,” he said.
Group A offenses declined 11% year-over-year in 2025, the first drop since 2018. Of the total, crimes against persons increased 0.5%, with crimes against property down 15% and crimes against society up 1.7%.
Police released the 58-page 2025 annual report earlier this month. Updates throughout the year are posted by Virginia State Police.
