N.C. Gov. Says ‘Booze It & Lose It’ Yields 6,258 DWI Arrests, 287 Stolen Autos Recovered

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley reported that state and local law enforcement officers cited more than 6,200 motorists for driving while impaired (DWI) violations during the Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s (GHSP) “Booze It & Lose It” winter campaign, which began Nov. 17, 2005, and ended on Jan. 1. A total of 199,960 traffic and criminal citations were issued statewide.

“I commend our state and local law enforcement officers for their hard work during this lifesaving campaign,” Easley said. “Vigilant, high-visibility enforcement is the key to getting impaired drivers off our roadways. These arrests send a message that drinking and driving will not be tolerated in North Carolina.”

During the campaign, officers statewide conducted more than 14,000 sobriety checkpoints and dedicated patrols. Counties with the highest number of DWI citations include Wake (634) and Mecklenburg (492).

While officers focused on impaired-driving violations, they also issued a total of 14,892 safety belt and 2,334 child passenger safety violations, as well as 68,811 speeding violations and 3,763 drug charges. In addition, they apprehended 384 fugitives from justice and recovered 287 stolen vehicles.

The GHSP has scheduled a series of traffic safety enforcement campaigns for 2006.