Virginia Casts Statewide DUI Net

          Commonwealth Launches Weekly Sobriety Checkpoint Blitz

        Effort Buoyed by both Half-Million Dollar Ad Campaign and
     New Virginia Polling Showing Large Support for Such Checkpoints

 Campaign Kick-Off in Advance of Deadly Labor Day Holiday and Will Unveil
                   Virginia's Latest Drunk Driving Data

  WHAT:    From the helipad of the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical
           Center in Richmond -- illustrating the seconds-critical hospital
           entry point of many drunk driving victims -- Virginia will kick
           off a five-month, statewide campaign targeting drunk drivers.

           In Virginia last year, a person was injured in an alcohol-related
           crash nearly every hour. Illustrating the often-tragic outcomes
           of drunk driving, Dr. Rao Ivatury, a leading trauma surgeon at
           the VCU Medical Center will discuss his experiences of saving and
           repairing lives in the aftermath of this 100-percent preventable
           crime.

           The Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign, which combines proactive
           public education and stepped-up enforcement, effectively erases
           borders between jurisdictions in fighting drunk driving.  The
           campaign is supported by a grant from the Virginia Department of
           Motor Vehicles.

           Event Speakers:
           * Honorable John Marshall, Virginia Secretary of Public Safety
           * Lt. Col W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent, Virginia State
             Police
           * Dr. Rao Ivatury, Director of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery,
             VCU Medical Center
           * Kurt Erickson, President, Virginia-based Washington Regional
             Alcohol Program (WRAP)
           * Carter Hill, Personal profile on how drunk driving changed his
             life

  WHY:     -- The 3rd deadliest U.S. holiday for drunk driving is only one
           week away -- Over HALF of U.S. traffic deaths are attributed to
           alcohol during the Labor Day holiday.

           -- Virginia's 2004 drunk driving data to be unveiled. (Are drunk
           driving deaths in Virginia up or down 5%? Come 8/25 to find out!)

           -- New statewide polling data on Virginians' attitudes about
           impaired driving and sobriety checkpoints will be released.

           -- $600,000 statewide radio ad-by launched.

           -- UNIQUE VANTAGE POINT/GREAT VISUALS:  News conference to take
           place on helipad of VCU Medical Center- See Richmond from over 11
           stories high!

  WHEN:    Thursday, August 25, 2005
           * 10:00 a.m.:  News conference spotlighting injury and death that
           occurs in drunk driving incidents.  A kick-off to Virginia's
           Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign.

  WHERE:   VCU Medical Center
           On the helipad (Media sign in will take place in the main lobby
           and you will be escorted to the helipad)
           PLEASE BRING YOUR CREDENTIALS
           1201 East Marshall Street
           Richmond, VA  23219

  MEDIA
  PARKING: Media will be able to park along 12th Street (on the North side
           of the Gateway Building) near the corner of 12th and Clay Streets

GREAT VISUALS -- News Conference to take place over 11 stories in the air -- On the VCU Medical Center's helipad! Great images of I-95 and of a VCU Life Evac helicopter.

CONTACTS: Advance media inquiries: Kelly Indrieri, Kristin Lawton or John Undeland, +1-202-289-2001; Event day: Indrieri: +1-202-550-8534, Undeland: +1-703-785-3461, Lawton: +1-202-246-8155, all for Checkpoint Strikeforce

PRNewswire -- Aug. 23