Law Enforcement Plan Statewide Crackdown on Drunken Drivers

Raleigh, N.C. — State and local law enforcement officers will be out in force over the weekend as part of a St. Patrick’s Day “Booze It & Lose It” campaign.

Gov. Mike Easley announced Friday that highway checkpoints and stepped-up patrols will be in place to remind people not to drink and drive and arrest those who do not heed that warning.

“Drinking and driving do not mix,” Easley said. “I urge people to be smart and stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day holiday.”

Thirty-six alcohol-related crashes were reported on North Carolina roads last St. Patrick’s Day, which resulted in three fatalities and 23 injuries, according to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles.

Some of the state’s six mobile breath-alcohol testing units, or BATmobiles, will be utilized as officers conduct patrols and checkpoints statewide. The campaign will run through Sunday.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Program advised partiers to plan ahead and designate a driver who doesn’t consume alcohol. People who believe they might be impaired are urged to call a taxi, use mass transit, or to call a friend or family member to pick them up, rather than engage in drunken driving.

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Walters, you're correct. The Fourth Amendement spells it out. Courts have ruled. Constitution loses.

It used to be that a cop (30-35 years ago) would take a guy's keys and give him a ride home if the cop thought he had too much to drink. What happened to those days? What happened to a cop using a little bit of discretion and using a little goodwill instead of being a revenue enhancement officer?

I'm not trying to minimize drunk driving, but it seems as if these checkpoints don't do anything to stop the idiot who's going to drink and drive anyway. All they do is keep law abiding people from going out and having a drink with dinner. If cops ran checkpoints 365 days a year, you could kiss all bars and restaurants good bye, and forget about any "downtown revitalizations". You have no jobs, but you have the impression you're safe from "drunks".

They tried to eliminate alcohol once - it was called Prohibition - It Failed.

knelsud92
March 19, 2007 3:07 p.m.

There is nothing unconstitutional about dwi/dwlr checkpoints. The Supreme Court (guys in DC with of 200 years of combined legal expertise) have already heard it and said as much. Checkpoints designed purely to look for drugs are. The state has a right to do certain things to insure that you are complying with motor vehicle law. That's "reasonable". Drug checkpoints were considered "unreasonable". Walters, before you cry about your rights, why don't you check to see if your gripe has already been settled by the people paid to interpret the Constitution. You make about as much sense as if I started crying about having a Constitutional right to drink beer. They already settled that one too.

The Dude
March 19, 2007 2:21 p.m.

Keep it simple! Don't drink and drive! We know the state sell the booze to you, and then require you to not to drink & drive!

ralwood
March 19, 2007 1:49 p.m.

Walters wrote "Stricter DUI laws! Yes I'm all for it." Just how are we to enforce "Stricter DUI laws" with out pulling you off the state, county, or city owned and maintained road ways attempting to do just that? You need to make up your mind.

LEO
March 19, 2007 12:13 p.m.

I dont see the problem. If you arent drunk, and havent broken any law, what is the big deal?

Tired of thoughtlessness
March 19, 2007 9:54 a.m.