Commending the Peninsula Alcohol Safety Action Program.

2026, 1st Special Session Introduced by Debra Gardner and 2 co-sponsors

Peninsula ASAP is commended for its decades of service advancing traffic safety, operating across multiple jurisdictions and innovating with courts and online access.

Bill text as passed House (HR2123ER)

Summary of HR 2123 (2026 Session, Virginia)

Purpose and Intent

HR 2123 is a House of Delegates resolution that commends the Peninsula Alcohol Safety Action Program (ASAP) in Newport News.

The resolution expresses admiration for the program’s long-standing service, leadership, and impact on road safety and the judicial system in the Virginia Peninsula and Commonwealth.

Key Provisions and Provisions It Makes

Formal recognition: The bill formally commends Peninsula ASAP for its “legacy of service” and contributions to safer communities.

Historical acknowledgment: It highlights the program’s founding (June 5, 1974) and its role in pioneering alcohol safety initiatives prior to statewide legislation requiring ASAPs.

Notable achievements and innovations:

Provided ongoing court-ordered education, monitoring, and intervention services to approximately 7,000 individuals annually.
Serves multiple jurisdictions (Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, and York, James City, and Charles City Counties), encompassing a population of over 500,000.
Adopted online service platforms during COVID-19 to ensure uninterrupted access and maintain court accountability.
Created a real-time communications network with courts to improve information exchange.
Played a pivotal role in re-establishing an ASAP in Alexandria in 2022, developing a fully operational program within six months and shaping it as a statewide model.

No policy changes or funding authorizations: The resolution does not impose new mandates, authorize spending, or alter statutory authorities; it is a formal expression of commendation.

Who or What Would Be Affected

Directly affected: Peninsula Alcohol Safety Action Program (ASAP) and its staff, partners, and the jurisdictions it serves (Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, York, James City, and Charles City Counties; population >500,000).

Indirectly affected: The broader Virginia judiciary and public safety community through recognition of Peninsula ASAP’s innovations and leadership, which may inform best practices in similar programs statewide.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduction and status: Introduced as House Resolution 2123 and presented on June 17, 2026, during Special Session I.

laying on the Speaker’s table: The measure was presented and laid on the Speaker’s table on the same date.

Sponsor: Primary sponsor is Delegate (and Co-sponsor) Virgil Thornton; the resolution acknowledges Thornton’s sponsorship.

Notable Context

The resolution emphasizes decades of service (over five decades) and highlights distinguished leadership and innovation.

It positions Peninsula ASAP as a model for continuity of service during crises (e.g., COVID-19) and for rebuilding programs in other localities (e.g., Alexandria).

In short, HR 2123 is a ceremonial measure recognizing and commending the Peninsula Alcohol Safety Action Program for its historic contributions to traffic safety, its sustained service to the community, and its role as a statewide exemplar in program innovation and collaboration with the judiciary.