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Posted: October 25, 2012

Latest 'booze it' campaign promoting Halloween safety

"Operation Booze It and Lose It", state troopers, traffic stop

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Raleigh, N.C. — With Halloween festivities and parties beginning as early as this weekend, law enforcement agencies around the state will up their efforts to combat drunken driving beginning Thursday with the latest “Booze It & Lose It” campaign.

Authorities will step up patrols and checkpoints through Oct. 31, and five mobile breath-alcohol testing units – called BATMobiles by law enforcement officials – will allow DWIs to be processed on scene.

In 2011, authorities charged more than 750 people with DWI during its Halloween-week crackdown.

During the last “Booze It & Lose It” campaign, which ran Aug. 17 to Sept. 3, more than 2,700 North Carolina motorists were arrested for driving while impaired. Officials issued a total of 94,125 traffic and criminal citations, including 6,691 safety belt and 1,172 child passenger safety violations. More than 24,000 people received speeding tickets.

Last year, nearly 400 people died in alcohol-related crashes in North Carolina.

Reporter: Tara Lynn
Web Editor: Derek Medlin

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15 Comments

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Latest Comments

"The laws that we have are plenty strict almost to the point of Draconian: making them tougher is not the answer. Enforcing what is on the books is the answer."

Darn right. These fools get too many chances to make things right and in most cases go right back to another DWI.

GravyPig
October 25, 2012 6:03 p.m.

Kermit60 & GravyPig:

Totally agree with you two on this. Personally, one dead is too many consider it is totally preventable!

Hope everyone have a SAFE holiday season! Peace!

Da Toy Maker
October 25, 2012 4:45 p.m.

The laws that we have are plenty strict almost to the point of Draconian: making them tougher is not the answer. Enforcing what is on the books is the answer. That and realizing that throwing a repeat offender under the bus is not necessarily the solution ...realizing that they need help might be the answer.

Hip-Shot
October 25, 2012 4:37 p.m.

"So many think this is police harassment, quota grabs, done for the money etc, until they are the ones who lose a child, friend or are hit by the drunk. Then they demand an explanation as to why th police allowed this guy to drive. It's sad that our society considers killing or injuring someone while driving under the influance as such a minor offense."

I don't think we see eye to eye on a lot fo things Kermit, but I whole heartedly agree with that statement.

"Make sure NO ONE HAS FUN IN THIS TOWN!!!"

Some people just don't get it.

GravyPig
October 25, 2012 3:21 p.m.

So many think this is police harassment, quota grabs, done for the money etc, until they are the ones who lose a child, friend or are hit by the drunk. Then they demand an explanation as to why th police allowed this guy to drive. It's sad that our society considers killing or injuring someone while driving under the influance as such a minor offense.

kermit60
October 25, 2012 2:38 p.m.

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