1,291 drivers cited for DWI over holiday weekend

RALEIGH — The Governor’s Highway Safety Program announced today that state and local law enforcement officers cited 1,291 motorists for driving while impaired during the “Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker” campaign, which ran June 28-July 4. A total of 49,235 traffic and criminal citations were issued statewide.

“We received an outpouring of support from law enforcement from across the state during this effort,” said David Weinstein, director of the GHSP. “Their dedication in removing impaired drivers from our roads is greatly appreciated.”

During the campaign, officers statewide conducted more than 4,609 sobriety checkpoints and dedicated patrols. Counties with the highest number of DWI citations include: Mecklenburg (87), Wake (77) and New Hanover (65).

Officers also issued 4,305 safety belt and 738 child passenger safety violations, 14,641 speeding violations and 835 drug charges. In addition, they apprehended 476 fugitives from justice and recovered 44 stolen vehicles.

For county-by-county citation totals, visit the GHSP Web site at: www.ncdot.org/programs/ghsp/news.

INFORMATION FROM A NEWS RELEASE SENT TO THE WWAY NEWSCHANNEL 3 NEWSROOM…