Weekend-long Booze It and Lose it/Click It or Ticket campaign begins Wednesday
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on June 29, 2004 1:58 PM
Impaired drivers and seat-belt violators will be targeted in a week-long campaign starting Wednesday by Wayne County authorities.
The first semi-annual "Booze It and Lose" program to remove drunk drivers from the roads and the second semi-annual "Click It or Ticket" program to encourage use of seat belts and child safety seats will extend across the long July 4 holiday weekend through next Tuesday.
Highway Patrol troopers, Goldsboro police officers and Wayne County sheriff's deputies will conduct random checkpoints to ensure the safety of the motoring public.
Highway Patrol First Sgt. T.C. McLeod, who commands the Wayne County district, said Monday that he expects bumper-to-bumper traffic heading to and then from the beaches on U.S. 70.
"We'll do what we can," McLeod said. "We can do a lot with a little. Every available man will be working July 4."
Troopers will conduct saturation and line patrols on the main beach highways, U.S. 70 and U.S. 117. McLeod said day and night checkpoints also will be held on such high-accident roads as Wayne Memorial Drive and Old Mount Olive Road, among others.
"The city and county will help," McLeod said. "Both do an outstanding job. They do a high volume of enforcement. We appreciate their assistance."
Maj. Mike Hopper said Goldsboro police will hold random checkpoints, day and night, on busy highways and residential streets.
"On July 4, people tend to party," Hopper said. "If people go somewhere, they need to have a designated driver or call a cab. Most businesses will assist the customer in getting home.
"We try to get the message out to people that it's not good sense to mix drinking and driving" he said.Sheriff's Maj. Billy Anderson said deputies also will conduct checkpoints around the county.
Hopper said two Goldsboro officers, Sgt. Grayham Keesler, a certified accident reconstruction officer, and Claude Jackson, went to the campaign kickoff today in Charlotte.