State and local law-enforcement officers arrested 5,049 motorists for driving while impaired (DWI) in the first five weeks of the 10th anniversary of the “Booze It & Lose It” campaign, which began on Nov. 19.

Counties with the highest DWI totals in Week 5 (Dec. 20-26) include Mecklenburg (88), Forsyth (33) and Durham (26).

Law enforcement officers will be on especially high alert for impaired driving violations during the holiday travel period. Last year, at least five North Carolina motorists died and 180 were more seriously injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes during the New Year’s Eve holiday period (6 p.m., Dec. 31, through midnight, Jan. 4).

In addition to impaired-driving charges, officers statewide last week noted 1,525 safety belt and 254 child passenger safety violations during 1,581 checkpoints and stepped-up patrols. Officers also wrote 7,805 speeding tickets and discovered a total of 466 drug charges, 37 stolen vehicles and eight fugitives from justice.

A total of 20,129 traffic and criminal citations were issued during the period.