More than 1000 North Carolina DWI citations issued during campaign
Law enforcement was out in full force last week during a statewide St. Patrick’s Day “Booze it and Lose it” campaign. The “Booze it and Lose It” campaign ran between March, 11 and 17. According to Department of Transportation statistics more than 1000 North Carolina DWI citations were issued. The North Carolina DOT says that state and local law enforcement agencies conducted 662 sobriety checkpoints during the campaign and utilized a total of 1956 saturation patrols across the state.
In addition to the 1,013 DWI cases, law enforcement across North Carolina issued 32,579 traffic and criminal citations during the stepped-up enforcement campaign. The week long campaign was part of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program campaign.
In Pitt County, law enforcement set up a total of four checkpoints during the campaign and used 28 saturation patrols. Pitt County law enforcement brought a total of 15 DWI related charges. Thirteen of the cases were brought against people who are age 21 or over. Two of the cases that arose during the “Booze it or Lose it” campaign in Pitt County were brought against drivers under the age of 21.
An underage DWI in North Carolina can be brought based upon any evidence of alcohol. An adult DWI requires either evidence of impairment or an alcohol content measurement of .08 or greater. Any measurable amount of alcohol in a driver under age 21 is sufficient for law enforcement to bring an underage DWI charge in the state.
North Carolina’s most populous counties saw the highest number of DWI related charges issued during the week. Mecklenburg County topped the list with 124 DWI charges filed.
Source: WECT, “Booze it & Lose it campaign yields more than 1,000 DWI citations,” 24 Mar 2011
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