Drunken driving crackdown nets 19,000 citations

RALEIGH -- A state-wide crackdown to reduce drunk driving caught Saint Patrick's Day revelers statewide. Gov. Easley announced the crackdown results today. More than 19,000 traffic and criminal citations were issued in the "Booze it and Lose it" campaign last weekend. Seven-hundred-thirty-three people were cited for driving under the influence during the holiday weekend. Of that number 30 were in region two, which includes New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Columbus and Bladen Counties. This numbers does not include Highway Patrol statistics.