Authorities say they took 11 impaired drivers off Anson County roads during the holiday “Booze It and Lose It” drunken-driving crackdown held from Dec. 11-Jan. 3.
Local law enforcement agencies conducted 15 checkpoints and 25 saturation and random patrols, arresting 11 people on driving while impaired charges, making two felony arrests and recording 53 total criminal violations, according to figures provided by the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program, which coordinates the campaign.
Officers cited 313 traffic violations, including 108 speeding tickets, for a total of 414 traffic violations and criminal charges.
Statewide, Booze It and Lose It resulted in 3,074 DWI charges. 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.
“It is our goal to reach zero fatalities on our roads in North Carolina,” Don Nail, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, said in a statement. “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.”
The N.C. Department of Transportation and Governor’s Highway Safety Program used 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.