Play it safe on St. Patrick's Day, don't drink and drive

State and local law enforcement officers will be cracking down this weekend as part of Governor Perdue's Highway Safety Program’s “Booze It & Lose It” St. Patrick’s Day campaign.

Posted 9:48 p.m. Mar 13, 2009 — Updated 9:48 p.m. Mar 13, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. — State and local law enforcement officers will be cracking down this weekend as part of Governor Perdue's Highway Safety Program’s “Booze It & Lose It” St. Patrick’s Day campaign.

There were 156 alcohol-related crashes on state roads last St. Patrick’s Day weekend, which ended in four fatalities and 120 injuries, according to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. The “Booze It & Lose It” campaign begins Friday and ends March 17.

Officers will conduct stepped-up patrols and checkpoints statewide throughout the weekend.

Troopers ask motorists to:

Plan a safe way home before a celebration begins.
If you are impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
If you see a drunk driver on the road, do not hesitate to call your local law enforcement.
If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get where they are going safely.

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