'Booze It & Lose It' Nets 2,126 Impaired Driving Arrests
9 December 1999
'Booze It & Lose It' Nets 2,126 Impaired Driving Arrests from Nov. 19-Dec. 5; GHSP Director Reminds Drivers to Stay Safe and Sober During This Holiday SeasonRALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 8 -- North Carolina law enforcement officers made 2,126 driving while impaired arrests during the last "Booze It & Lose It" of the millennium, which lasted from Nov. 19 - Dec. 5. The arrests are the result of 965 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 4,504 seat belt and 556 child passenger safety violations. They discovered 16,416 other traffic violations and 1,985 total criminal violations, including 221 felony drug charges, 78 firearms violations, and 22 fugitives from justice. "Although 'Booze It & Lose It' has concluded, law enforcement officers will still continue to crack down on impaired drivers during this holiday season and into next year," said Joe Parker, director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program. "As you get in your vehicles to travel this season, please remember to play it safe and don't drink and drive." During the next "Booze It & Lose It" campaign, law enforcement officers will be upholding a new set of DWI laws, which will go into effect on July 1, 2000. The new law, which will target repeat DWI offenders, will lower the alcohol concentration (AC) from 0.08 to 0.04 for those who have been convicted of one DWI and have had their license reinstated. Chronic offenders will also be targeted by the new law, which will lower the legal AC to 0.00 for those who have been convicted of a second DWI and have had their license reinstated. Additionally, persons convicted of having a legal AC of .16 or greater will have to have an ignition interlock system installed in their vehicles before they are allowed to drive. The following are the citations issued statewide by law enforcement officers at "Booze It & Lose It" sobriety checkpoints and random patrols from Nov. 19-Dec. 5. Other DWI Occupant Restraint Traffic Violations Total Driving Seat Belt Child Other Checkpoints While Violations Passenger Speeding Traffic Impaired Safety Violations Violations Violations Week Nov. 19-28 586 1,401 2,810 330 10,895 9,847 Nov. 29 -Dec. 5 379 725 1,694 226 6,580 6,569 Totals 965 2,126 4,504 556 17,475 16,416 Other Criminal Violations Traffic Violations Total Misdemeanor Felony Firearm Stolen Fugitives Traffic Drug Drug Violations Vehicles Arrested Violations Violations Violations Recovered Week Nov. 19-28 25,283 366 128 47 22 9 Nov. 29 -Dec. 5 15,794 247 93 31 16 13 Totals 41,077 613 221 78 38 22 Criminal Violations Other Total Total Criminal Criminal Traffic & Violations Violations Criminal Not Listed Violations Week Nov. 19-28 806 1,378 26,661 Nov. 29 -Dec. 5 207 607 16,401 Totals 1,013 1,985 43,062 For county-by-county "Booze It & Lose It" results or for information about other highway safety issues, contact Public Information Officer Jill Warren Lucas or Deputy Public Information Officer Erica Hinton at 919-733-3083 or visit our web site at: http://www.dot.state.nc.us/services/ghsp