Statewide "Booze It & Lose It" enforcement campaign is underway

You’ll likely see more law enforcement officers patrolling the highways in the next few weeks. The statewide “Booze It & Lose It” holiday enforcement effort is underway.

State officials are warning drivers they have much to lose by driving under the influence. Mark Ezzell, director of the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program, released a statement reminding motorists that beyond the risk of causing fatal accidents, drivers “could face thousands of dollars in court costs and fines, jail time, or a revoked license.”

As part of the “Booze It & Lose It” effort, law enforcement agencies step up patrols looking for impaired drivers. The state is also supporting campaign awareness with media advertising and social media outreach.

According to a news release, so far this year 432 people have been killed in North Carolina in alcohol or drug-related crashes, compared to 503 over the same time period in 2021. The annual total of fatalities had increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials say travelers can stay safer by always finding a sober ride home, buckling seatbelts, and obeying the speed limit.