The period coincides with the first week of the statewide “Booze It and Lose It” campaign.
“It just tells you that people are learning,” Aberdeen Police Lt. James Foster said.
From June 29 to July 8 of last year, law enforcement officers conducted 41 checkpoints and made 26 DWI arrests. This year, officers did the same number of checkpoints but made only five DWI arrests.
Each of the surrounding counties reported an increase in DWI arrests this year, despite conducting fewer checkpoints. Richmond County had the most, 16 DWI arrests with eight checkpoints.
Moore County law-enforcement officers held more than twice as many checkpoints as any neighboring county.
Public Information Officer for the Department of Transportation Jill Warren Lucas believes the proliferation of check points in Moore probably led to less arrests by discouraging people from drinking and driving.
“High visibility of law enforcement has a very chilling effect on someone who would otherwise drive,” Lucas said.
The Governor’s Highway Safety Commission began the “Booze It and Lose It” campaign in 1994 under Gov. Jim Hunt’s administration.
The program has been such a success that other states have copied or adopted the program, Warren said. There is even a national campaign called “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose” based on “Booze It and Lose It.”
The Independence Day holiday period is historically one of the most dangerous driving holidays because of the large number of people on the highways. It’s not a coincidence that the “Booze It and Lose It” campaign coincides with this holiday.
Statewide, law-enforcement officers made 1,729 DWI arrests over the June 28 to July 7 period.
That’s just seven less than last year’s number, 1,736, which was the most DWI arrests in the last seven years.
The checkpoints resulted in 41,327 traffic violations and criminal charges. Officers captured 15 fugitives and recovered seven stolen vehicles.
Moore County officers found no criminal violations.
“The partial conclusion you can make is that law enforcement has made an impact in this area,” Lucas said.
