Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year for roadway traffic. It is basically the last weekend before summer truly ends. It seems as though everyone makes some sort of plans to celebrate the four day weekend before they have to go back to work or school and before cold weather sets in. Cars are loaded up as people hit the roads in mass numbers.
This Labor Day was no different for North Carolina drivers, but weekend vacationers were not the only ones out on the road. More than 11,180 sobriety checkpoints monitored by local police officers were set up during the Labor Day “Booze It & Lose It” campaign. Now that most people are back to a normal work schedule, the tallies are finally in. Over 3,200 DWI citations were issued from Aug. 20- Sept.6 according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.
The police stationed at the checkpoints were looking for more than people who were driving under the influence of alcohol. There were a grand total of 111,668 citations issued statewide for various traffic and criminal violations. 8,698 people failed to wear their seatbelts, 1,413 parents failed to exercise child passenger safety, 32,635 people sped above the posted limits and 2,163 people violated various drug laws.
As you enjoy the holidays, remember that law enforcement usually always extends its efforts during those busy times. DWI convictions can be extremely expensive and are seen as a serious conviction during background checks. Make sure to plan ahead and have an alternate way home if you know that you will consume alcohol.
Source: WSOCTV.com, “3,200+ DWI Citations Issued In ‘Booze It & Lose It’ Campaign,” 9/9/20