North Carolina Booze it & Lose it Holiday Safety Campaign Planned

North Carolina state and local law enforcement officers will increase their presence during the Fourth of July holiday as part of the Booze It & Lose It: “Operation Firecracker” campaign, Gov. Mike Easley said.

Checkpoints and stepped-up patrols will be conducted from June 27 through July 6 across the state in an effort to remove impaired drivers from the roads.

“Law enforcement officers will be out in force, sending a strong message to motorists that drinking and driving will not be tolerated,” Easley said. “The Fourth of July holiday is one of the deadliest for highway travel and we want people to be safe by celebrating responsibly.”

Last year, 60 North Carolina motorists were involved in fatal traffic crashes during the Independence Day holiday week. Twenty-one of those fatalities were alcohol-related. Alcohol-related crashes also accounted for 411 injuries in the state during the same week in 2007.

Officers charged more than 2,100 North Carolina motorists with driving while impaired during the 2007 Booze It & Lose It:” Operation Firecracker” campaign. More than 6,173 stepped-up patrols and checkpoints were held.

Source: Office of the Governor of North Carolina