Drunk driving campaign results in 35 charges
By Lee Williams
Published in News on January 5, 2007 1:48 PM
Even the sight of high visibility law enforcement patrol cars wasn't enough to deter some Wayne County residents from getting behind the wheel when they shouldn't have over the New Year's weekend, law officers said this week.
Thirty-five people were arrested for driving while impaired during the "Booze It and Lose It," campaign held by the state Highway Patrol, Goldsboro Police Department and Wayne County Sheriff's Office.
In all, more than 500 charges were filed as a result of the campaign, including 76 child-restraint violations and 27 drug violations. Four stolen vehicles were recovered and four people wanted for other charges were taken into custody.
Goldsboro Highway Patrol Commander First Sgt. Dwayne Banks said he was surprised by the number of DWIs logged and said he firmly believes the campaign saved lives.
"We did have fewer fatalities this year over last year, so statewide it was good," Banks said. "The hope is that people were more informed and more or less took heed to be more careful on the highway."
Last year, during the Christmas and New Year holiday week, 32 people were killed and 1,229 people were injured in traffic collisions, highway patrol officials said. The statistics for this year were unavailable as yet.
Banks would not venture a guess as to the reason for the relatively high number of DWIs in Wayne this holiday.
"I don't know," Banks said. "That's the hundred million dollar question."
Here are the statistics for each agency:
Highway Patrol
Random patrols 2
DWI 8
Child restraint violations 27
Drug violations 1
Speeding/other traffic violations - 141
Sheriff's Department
Checkpoints 4
Saturation and Random Patrols 9
DWI 3
Safety belt violations 1
Drug violations 3
Other criminal violations 7
Speeding 11
Driving while license revoked 13
Other traffic violations 20
Uninsured motorists 2
wanted persons apprehended 3
Goldsboro Police Department
Checkpoints 10
Saturation, random patrols 72
DWI 24
Child/safety restraint violations 48
Speeding 87
Driving while license revoked 51
Other traffic violations 203
Drug violations 23
Other criminal violations 27
Stolen vehicles recovered 4
Wanted persons apprehended 1