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Police find moonshine during traffic stop

Posted at 7:14 PM, Feb 04, 2013
and last updated 2013-02-05 07:25:48-05

PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Friday afternoon a Prince George County Police officer clocked a pickup truck doing 98 miles per hour in a 55 m.p.h. zone on Route 35, a two-lane road.

Minutes later, another officer was able to stop the pick-up truck along Route 460.

In the cab, police found a 60-year-old man from Franklin and a 68-year-old from Richmond.

Both said they were heading to the city for a Super Bowl party.

Inside the truck, Prince George police said they found 24 gallons of home-made moonshine.

The illegal liquor was divided up; 6 gallon jugs each, in four cardboard boxes.

The driver and passenger were charged with misdemeanors; one count of possession of untaxed liquor and one count of transporting untaxed liquor.

The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said every day their agents deal with moonshine, either taking tips or investigating.

While moonshine might be a common problem, the ABC said that some who buy moonshine don't realize it can be deadly.

Even though using radiators to make moonshine went out with prohibition, recent lab results on some confiscated moonshine made in the Commonwealth reveals high levels of copper and lead.