North Carolina law enforcement on the roads for St. Patrick’s Day
Holidays are often a time for people to get together to celebrate. St. Patrick’s Day is well known as a day for a number of people that venture out to area bars. St. Patrick’s Day is upon us and North Carolina law enforcement plans to be out in full force to enforce North Carolina DWI laws.
State and local law enforcement agencies are participating in the Highway Safety Program’s St. Patrick’s Day Booze it and Lose it campaign. The week long campaign is already under way all across North Carolina. Law enforcement agencies across the state will have stepped up patrols on the Thursday holiday. DWI checkpoints will also be used to enforce the state’s tough DWI laws.
The North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety program makes some suggestions for people to reduce the risk of an accident and reduce the risk of facing a charge for DWI on St. Patrick’s Day. The program says people should plan ahead to avoid driving while impaired at the end of the festivities.
Tips include:
- Planning a safe way home in advance so the decision is not made at the end of the evening
- Designating a sober driver in advance and having other revelers leave their keys at home
- If planning ahead falls through call a taxi, a sober friend or family member for a ride home after drinking
- Friends can also look after each other to help each other make arrangements for a sober ride home after a party or heading to the bars
State Transportation Secretary Gene Conti says that in driving while impaired, “not only do you risk injuring yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired are significant.”
Source: WECT-TV6, “Don’t rely on dumb luck this St. Patrick’s Day, have a DD,” 13 Mar 2011
Tags: Carolina, enforcement, North, Patrick's, Roads