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Highway Patrol will be out in force this weekend

From staff reports

Hickory Daily Record

Published: July 3, 2009

HICKORY - While Catawba County's residents are spending Saturday celebrating Independence Day, North Carolina's troopers will be out patrolling the highways in an effort to keep the public safe in an operation called "Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker."

Checkpoints and stepped-up patrols will be conducted through Sunday across the state in an effort to remove impaired drivers from the roads said Sgt. T.E. Robinson of Highway Patrol Troop F District V.

More people are expected to be on the road and the number of troopers patrolling the roads will be increased to handle the additional traffic.

He said troopers will be keeping an eye out for aggressive drivers, speeders, seatbelt violations and people driving under the influence.

They'll also be keeping an eye on the members of the Outlaw Motorcycle Club, which has gathered in Newton for their annual meeting, Robinson said.

There were 377 alcohol-related crashes, 322 with injuries and 12 that resulted in fatalities over the Independence Day week last year, according to a release from the office of Gov. Bev Perdue.

More than 1,900 motorists were charged with driving while impaired during last year's "Operation Firecracker" campaign.

"Too many people fail to understand that alcohol and driving don't mix. Impaired driving is no accident, nor is it a victimless crime," Perdue said. "Law enforcement officers will crack down on impaired drivers, ensuring that everyone is celebrating the holiday responsibly."

Although gasoline prices have fallen steadily for nearly two weeks, the experts are still expecting a dip in the number of holiday travelers this weekend.

Holiday road travel for July 4 is still expected to be nearly 3 percent lower than last year, according to AAA Carolinas.

North Carolina suffered 14 fatalities last July 4. Alcohol has been a factor recently in more than 50 percent of the state's fatal crashes, but law officers won't just be looking for dangerous drivers this weekend, they'll be keeping an eye out for impaired boaters.

Operating a recreational vessel while under the influence of an impairing substance or with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher is illegal. Penalties may include fines up to $1,000 and jail time.