'Booze It & Lose It' Nets 35 Impaired Driving Arrests at Five Checkpoints

RALEIGH, N.C., July 1 -- Thirty-five impaired drivers were arrested at five multi-agency "Booze It & Lose It" impaired driving checkpoints around the state during the first weekend of the summer 2002 "Booze It & Lose It" campaign.

The state's three breath-alcohol testing mobile units, better known as BATMobiles, were used at sobriety checkpoints in locations with high alcohol- related crash rates, according to 1999-2001 crash data. These events were conducted in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Wilmington and Dare County; a planned Raleigh/Durham event was cancelled due to storms. Checkpoints and stepped-up patrols will continue through July 14.

Deputy Transportation Secretary Roger Sheats will join state and local law enforcement officers to deliver a safe and sober holiday driving message at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at the Fayetteville Police Department. A checkpoint with a BATMobile will follow later that evening.

"Motorists traveling during the July 4th holiday should know that law enforcement officers are on high alert for impaired drivers," Sheats said. "Especially in light of national security concerns, motorists should expect that officers will stop anyone who demonstrates dangerous or suspicious driving behaviors."

                       DWI            Occupant Restraint

                     Driving                         Child
                      While                        Passenger
                    Impaired       Seat Belt        Safety
     June 28-29    Violations     Violations      Violations

    Asheville         2               6                2
    (Buncombe)

    Greensboro        8               7                0
    (Guilford)

    Charlotte-       11               0                0
    Cornelius

    Dare County       3              23                0

    Wilmington       11               6                0
    (N. Hanover)

    Total            35              42                2


                              Traffic Violations

                                    Other
                                   Traffic           Total
                                   Violations        Traffic
                    Speeding      Not Listed       Violations

    Asheville         0              44               44
    (Buncombe)

    Greensboro       24             100              124
    (Guilford)

    Charlotte-        0              39               39
    Cornelius

    Dare County       0              47               47

    Wilmington        8              40               48
    (N. Hanover)

    Total            32             170              302



                          Total Criminal Violations

                  Misdemeanor      Felony
                     Drug           Drug             Firearm
                  Violations     Violations        Violations

    Asheville         3              0                  0
    (Buncombe)

    Greensboro        5              0                  0
    (Guilford)

    Charlotte-        0              2                  0
    Cornelius

    Dare County      15              3                  0

    Wilmington        4              0                  0
    (N. Hanover)

    Total            27              5                  0


                          Total Criminal Violations

                    Other                             Total
                   Criminal         Total            Traffic &
                  Violations      Criminal           Criminal
                  Not Listed     Violations         Violations


    Asheville         1              4                  58
    (Buncombe)

    Greensboro        9             14                 153
    (Guilford)

    Charlotte-        3              5                  55
    Cornelius

    Dare County       7             25                  98

    Wilmington        2              6                  71
    (N. Hanover)

    Total            22             54                 435