Last Updated on January 7, 2016 3:09 pm
State and local law enforcement spent their holidays keeping impaired drivers off the roads during N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s “Booze It and Lose It” campaign, which ran from December 11 to January 3. The campaign resulted in 3,074 DWI charges in which 252 were drug related charges and 2,822 were alcohol related.
Nearly 350 law enforcement agencies participated in the campaign issuing 105,020 traffic and criminal citations in addition to the 2,822 DWI charges at 10,914 checking stations and saturation patrols across the state.
The top five counties for DWI arrests during the campaign were:
- Wake County – 260;
- Guilford County – 208;
- Mecklenburg County – 168;
- Cumberland County – 136; and
- Forsyth County – 125.
“It is our goal to reach zero fatalities on our roads in North Carolina,” said Don Nail, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “I am thankful of the work North Carolina’s law enforcement officers did during the holidays keeping those traveling the states roadways safe, averaging 128 DWI arrests per day during the ‘Booze It & Lose It’ campaign.”
NC Transportation and Governor’s Highway Safety Program utilized social media during the campaign to complement the increased enforcement efforts, reminding drivers “Don’t Drink and Drive. You’re Smarter Than That.” The campaign recommended drivers to take advantage of the variety of options that are readily available to get home safely after drinking —including calling a friend, using a taxi or ride service, taking public transportation, or designating a driver.
Below are some of the stats for the High Country from the report:
Checkpoints: Watauga – 0, Ashe – 3 , Avery – 0
Number of Saturation Patrol: Watauga – 160, Ashe – 37, Avery – 19
Number of Checkpoints and Patrols: Watauga – 160, Ashe – 40, Avery – 19
DWI Drug Charges: Watauga – 5, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Under 21 DWI Charges: Watauga – 1, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
21 and Over DWI Charges: Watauga – 8, Ashe – 1, Avery –2
TOTAL DWI: Watauga – 14, Ashe – 0, Avery – 2
Safety Belt Violations: Watauga – 14, Ashe – 12, Avery – 6
Child Passenger Safety: Watauga – 0, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Total Occupant Restraint Charges: Watauga – 14, Ashe – 12, Avery – 6
Drug Violations: Watauga – 22, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Stolen Vehicles Recovered: Watauga – 2, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Fugitives Arrested: Watauga – 0, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Felony Arrests: Watauga – 7, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Other Criminal Violations: Watauga – 14, Ashe – 0 , Avery – 0
Total Criminal Violations: Watauga – 36, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Speeding: Watauga – 165, Ashe – 27, Avery – 55
Drive While License Revoked: Watauga – 7, Ashe – 19, Avery – 2
Other Traffic Violations Not Listed: Watauga – 127, Ashe – 99, Avery – 22
Uninsured Motorist: Watauga – 4, Ashe – 10, Avery – 2
Reckless Driving: Watauga – 0, Ashe – 0, Avery – 2
Total Traffic and Criminal Violations: Watauga – 384, Ashe – 167, Avery – 96
Wanted Persons Apprehended: Watauga – 8, Ashe – 0, Avery – 5
