The Wadesboro Police Department — along with the assistance and coordination of several outside law enforcement agencies stretching from Moore, Stanly, Scotland and Union counties — recently participated in a multi-agency DWI checkpoint on U.S. 74 at Wade Manufacturing.
Our goal as the Wadesboro Police Department and the North Carolina Governors Highway Safety Program is dedicated to promoting highway safety awareness to reduce the number of traffic crashes and fatalities in the state of North Carolina and also here in Wadesboro. Diligent planning and execution of the checkpoint allowed officers to get those who do not obey the law by drinking and driving off the roads to make a safer community for those who travel.
With more than 20 years of the slogan that’s known across the country, “Booze It & Lose It,”nearly 8,500 people have lost their lives in crashes involving alcohol. One death is one too many just from one person drinking and driving while making a terrible decision that could cause another’s life.
With strong enforcement, the checkpoint we conducted may have saved a life. Officer Scott Gulledge with the Wadesboro Police Department prepared and hosted this checkpoint in his role as county coordinator for the N.C. Governors Highway Safety Program. Officers were able to issue more than 59 charges, including driving while impaired offenses and several drug violations.
Those who were caught and charged were placed under arrest with a magistrate on scene aboard the BAT Mobile that was provided by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Those who were placed under arrest were then placed in the Anson County Sheriff’s Office’s custody while waiting in the jail van that Sheriff Reid provided to be on scene.
With the help of Anson Safe Kids, five child seats were checked and corrected on scene of the checkpoint, assuring the safety of those children leaving from the location. This checkpoint is one of many that are planned in the future as a reminder to prevent future tragedies from occurring.
From the Wadesboro police chief’s desk, “If you make the decision to drink and drive, you will get caught, day or night.” We as a department are dedicated to ensure the safety of our community and to safe travels on the streets and highways with strong enforcement.
Thedis Spencer is chief of the Wadesboro Police Department.
