'Booze It & Lose It' Nets 2,039 Impaired Driving Arrests
7 December 2000
'Booze It & Lose It' Nets 2,039 Impaired Driving Arrests From Nov. 17-Dec. 3GHSP Director Urges Motorists to Remember Impaired Driving Message During Holiday Season RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 6 North Carolina law enforcement officers made 2,039 driving while impaired (DWI) arrests during the fall 2000 "Booze It & Lose It" campaign, which lasted from Nov. 17-Dec. 3. The arrests are the result of 1,345 checkpoints and random patrols across the state. The numbers were reported by the law enforcement agencies in each county and compiled by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. In addition to cracking down on drunk drivers, law enforcement officers issued 6,085 seat belt and 732 child passenger safety violations. They discovered 11,880 other traffic violations and 1,843 total criminal violations, including 58 felony drug charges, 33 firearms violations and 13 fugitives from justice. "Don't be fooled just because the "Booze It & Lose It" campaign has wrapped up for this year," said Joe Parker, director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program. "As we enter into the holiday season, I want motorists to know that law enforcement officers statewide will still be out in full force to target drunk drivers. So please, if you've been drinking, remember to choose a designated driver." Parker added that fatalities on North Carolina roads are especially high during the three-day Christmas holiday season, with nine people dying in crashes during this time last year. Not only can motorists make the roads safer by refusing to drink and drive, but they should also remember to always buckle up themselves and their children each and every time they are on the road. The following are the citations issued statewide by law enforcement officers at "Booze It & Lose It" sobriety checkpoints and random patrols from Nov. 17-Dec. 3. DWI Occupant Restraint Week Total Driving Seat Belt Child Chkpts While Violations Passenger and Impaired Safety Patrols Violations Violations Nov. 17-26 778 1,320 3,935 493 Nov. 27- Dec. 3 567 719 2,150 239 Totals 1,345 2,039 6,085 732 Other Traffic Violations Week Speeding Other Total Traffic Traffic Violations Violations Nov. 17-26 12,953 7,389 29,536 Nov. 27- Dec. 3 7,227 4,491 16,663 Totals 20,180 11,880 46,119 Criminal Violations Week Misdemeanor Felony Firearm Stolen Drug Drug Violations Vehicles Violations Violations Recovered Nov. 17-26 391 35 20 16 Nov. 27- Dec. 3 128 23 13 14 Totals 519 58 33 30 Criminal Violations Week Fugitives Other Total Total Arrested Criminal Criminal Traffic & Violations Violations Criminal Not Listed Violations Nov. 17-26 13 568 1,043 30,579 Nov. 27- Dec. 3 0 622 800 17,463 Totals 13 1,190 1,843 48,042