Last Updated on November 11, 2016 12:22 pm
RALEIGH – Hundreds of impaired drivers were removed from the roads during the recent holiday weekend thanks to the Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s Halloween BOO-ze It & Lose It enforcement campaign. State and local law enforcement arrested and charged 605 drivers for driving while impaired, of which 557 were alcohol-related and 48 were drug-related.
“Ensuring the safety of trick-or-treaters and other travelers was our top priority,” GHSP Director Don Nail said. “I am encouraged that our law enforcement officers increased their efforts to remove nightmares from our roadways this Halloween.”
During the four-day campaign, law enforcement agencies across North Carolina issued 19,292 traffic and criminal violations at 2,118 sobriety-checking stations and saturation patrols. In 2015, 601 DWI charges were issued along with 15,855 other traffic and criminal violations at 1,553 sobriety-checking stations and saturation patrols.
“It is promising to see that even with an increase in enforcement activities, we had about the same number of DWI charges. This shows that people are becoming more responsible and making the decision to not drive while impaired,” continued Nail.
The top five counties for DWI arrests during the Halloween BOO-ze It & Lose It enforcement campaign were:
Wake County: 53
Guilford County: 42
Forsyth County: 27
Mecklenburg County: 26
Pitt County: 24
The N.C. Department of Transportation and GHSP reminded motorists to plan a safe way home before drinking through the “Don’t Drink and Drive. You’re Smarter Than That.” marketing campaign. GHSP launched BeSmarterThanThat.com to prevent impaired driving by providing links to resources that allow users to designate a sober driver, download a ride app, find public transportation options, and find a taxi.
Below are some of the stats for the High Country from the report:
Checkpoints: Watauga – 0, Ashe – 2 , Avery – 2
Number of Saturation Patrol: Watauga – 30, Ashe – 5, Avery – 1
Number of Checkpoints and Patrols: Watauga – 30, Ashe – 7, Avery – 3
DWI Drug Charges: Watauga – 0, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Under 21 DWI Charges: Watauga – 6, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
21 and Over DWI Charges: Watauga – 6, Ashe – 0, Avery –2
TOTAL DWI: Watauga – 12, Ashe – 0, Avery – 2
Safety Belt Violations: Watauga – 14, Ashe – 2, Avery – 10
Child Passenger Safety: Watauga – 0, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Total Occupant Restraint Charges: Watauga – 14, Ashe – 2, Avery – 10
Drug Violations: Watauga – 16, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Stolen Vehicles Recovered: Watauga – 0, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Fugitives Arrested: Watauga – 0, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Felony Arrests: Watauga – 3, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Other Criminal Violations: Watauga – 6, Ashe – 0 , Avery – 0
Total Criminal Violations: Watauga – 22, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
Speeding: Watauga – 80, Ashe – 2, Avery – 16
Drive While License Revoked: Watauga – 0, Ashe – 2, Avery – 7
Other Traffic Violations Not Listed: Watauga – 34, Ashe – 11, Avery – 9
Uninsured Motorist: Watauga – 0, Ashe – 1, Avery – 2
Reckless Driving: Watauga – 2, Ashe – 0, Avery – 1
Total Traffic and Criminal Violations: Watauga – 173, Ashe – 18, Avery – 47
Wanted Persons Apprehended: Watauga – 6, Ashe – 0, Avery – 0
