Last Updated on March 27, 2014 8:50 am
Luck ran out for more than 800 drivers in North Carolina who were arrested for driving under the influence during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. Law enforcement stepped up patrols and held checkpoints across the state from March 14 through March 17 as part of the “Booze It & Lose It” campaign.
“The only lucky charm guaranteed to work this St. Patrick’s Day was a designated driver,” said Don Nail, director of the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “Thanks to the efforts of law enforcement, those who drove drunk got caught. The officers will continue their efforts day and night until drivers no longer get behind the wheel after drinking.”
The top five counties for DWI arrests during the St. Patrick’s Day “Booze It & Lose It” campaign include:
Wake County with 92 DWI arrests;
Mecklenburg County with 64 DWI arrests;
Cumberland County with 41 DWI arrests;
Guilford County with 39 DWI arrests; and
Robeson County with 32 DWI arrests.
In addition to DWI arrests, local and state law enforcement officers issued 23,867 traffic and criminal citations statewide at 3,959 checking stations and patrols. They also issued 1,685 safety belt and 282 child passenger safety violations; 6,579 speeding violations; 170 work zone violations and 729 drug charges. In addition, they apprehended 612 fugitives from justice and recovered 21 stolen vehicles.
Below are some of the stats for the High Country from the report:
Checkpoints Watauga – 1, Ashe – 3 , Avery – 0
Number of Checkpoints and Patrols Watauga – 56, Ashe – 12, Avery – 5
Number of Saturation Patrol – Watauga – 55, Ashe – 9, Avery – 5
Under 21 DWI Charges Watauga – 0, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
21 and Over DWI Charges Watauga – 5, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
TOTAL DWI Watauga – 5, Ashe – 0, Avery – 1
Safety Belt Violations Watauga – 11, Ashe – 5 , Avery – 5
Child Passenger Safety – Watauga – 0, Ashe – 0, Avery – 1
Total Occupant Restraint Charges – Watauga – 11, Ashe – 5, Avery – 6
Drug Violations: Watauga – 13, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Felony Arrests: Watauga – 1, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Other Criminal Violations: Watauga – 9, Ashe – 0 , Avery – 0
Speeding Watauga – 93, Ashe – 12 , Avery – 8
Drive While License Revoked: Watauga – 6, Ashe – 1, Avery – 6
Other Traffic Violations Not Listed – Watauga – 73, Ashe – 3, Avery – 4
Total Other Traffic Violations Watauga – 172, Ashe – 19, Avery – 18
Total Traffic and Criminal Violations Watauga – 217, Ashe – 25, Avery – 25
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