RALEIGH, N.C. — More than 1,700 motorists were charged with driving drunk during the week of Fourth of July, the Governor's Highway Safety Program said on Tuesday.

Law enforcement officers across the state issued 1,742 citations during its campaign, which ran from June 29 to July 9. About 500 of those citations were issued in Wake and Durham counties.

Checkpoints and stepped-up patrols throughout the state marked the Booze It & Loose It: Operation Firecracker In addition to issuing DWI violations, officers arrested 284 fugitives and recovered 94 stolen vehicles.

Overall, about 55,000 drivers were arrested or received citations, which also included speed violations, driving-without-a-license violations, seatbelt violations and child-passenger violations.