Easley, Michael. Press Release, 2008-07-10, Gov. Easley Announces Nearly 2,000 Charged With DWI During "Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker"

Michael F. Easley Governor State of North Carolina Office of the Governor For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Seth Effron Date: July 10, 2008 Phone: 919/733-5612 GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES NEARLY 2,000 CHARGED WITH DWI DURING “BOOZE IT & LOSE IT: OPERATION FIRECRACKER” RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley announced today that state and local law enforcement officers cited 1,986 motorists for driving while impaired during the July 4th holiday “Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker” campaign. A total of 66,738 traffic and criminal citations were issued statewide. “Law enforcement officers spent their holiday away from their families to protect North Carolina motorists over the Independence Day weekend,” Easley said. “We all appreciate their continued dedication to remove impaired drivers from our roads and make our state a safer place to travel.” During the Governor’s Highway Safety Program campaign, which ran from June 27 through July 6, officers statewide conducted more than 5,724 sobriety checkpoints and dedicated patrols. Counties with the greatest number of driving while impaired citations were: Wake (132), Mecklenburg (1 14), New Hanover (61) and Robeson (61). Officers also issued: 6,549 safety belt and 1,075 child passenger safety violations; 20,301 speeding violations; and 1,256 drug charges. In addition, they apprehended 534 fugitives from justice and recovered 85 stolen vehicles. For county-by-county citation totals, visit the Governor’s Highway Safety Program web site at: www.ncdot.org/programs/nhsp. ### Governor's Press Office State Capitol. Raleigh, NC 27603-8001 (919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005 FAX (919) 733-5166