‘Booze it and Lose it' campaign underway across North Carolina
NORTH CAROLINA (WGHP) — As we approach St. Patrick's Day, law enforcement across the state is reminding motorists not to drink and drive.
On Monday, Governor Josh Stein's Highway Safety Program launched the St. Patrick's Day 'Booze It and Lose It' enforcement campaign, aiming to keep impaired drivers off the road ahead of the holiday.
According to a press release from the N.C. Department of Transportation, now through March 17, drivers can expect an increase in the number of patrols and driver checkpoints by law enforcement across the state.
Senate bill introduced to increase car inspection fees in North Carolina
'Embracing fun traditions is one thing; engaging in the deadly behavior that is drinking and driving is another. Getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol puts lives at risk,' said Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr., commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. 'As law enforcement officers, we witness firsthand the devastation and loss caused by alcohol-impaired driving, along with the lasting pain it inflicts on families, friends, and entire communities. Drinking and driving is not an option, but making sure someone sober will be behind the wheel is.'
Law enforcement issued 784 DWI charges during last year's campaign. Of those charges, 71 were issued to drivers under the legal drinking age.
'The consequences of driving while impaired are life-altering,' said NCGHSP Director Mark Ezzell. 'Alcohol clouds a person's judgement, and anyone planning to drink should always prepare by planning for a sober ride home.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Right-wing Colombian presidential candidate, senator shot during campaign rally
Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe was shot in Bogota on Saturday, according to the government and his party, and local media reported that he was in a local hospital in serious condition. The 39-year-old senator, who is running for the presidency in 2026, is a member of the opposition conservative Democratic Center party founded by former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. The two men are not related. Senator Miguel Uribe looks on after the Senate voted against the government labor reform referendum promoted by Colombia's President Gustavo Petro in Bogota on May 14, 2025. AFP via Getty Images According to a party statement condemning the attack, the senator was hosting a campaign event in a public park in the Fontibon neighborhood in the capital on Saturday when 'armed subjects shot him in the back.' The party described the attack as serious, but did not disclose further details on Uribe's condition. Colombia's Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said a suspect had been arrested in the shooting and that authorities were investigating whether others were involved. Sanchez said he had visited the hospital where Uribe was being treated. Police officers cordon off the area where Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay of the opposition Democratic Center party, was shot during a campaign event, in Bogota, Colombia, June 7, 2025. REUTERS Colombia's presidency issued a statement saying the government 'categorically and forcefully' rejected the violent attack, and called for a thorough investigation into the events that took place. Uribe is from a prominent family in Colombia, with links to the country's Liberal Party. His father was a businessman and union leader. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped in 1990 by an armed group under the command of the late cartel leader Pablo Escobar. She was killed during a rescue operation.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Former Dallas Cowboy Kelvin Joseph charged in deadly Richardson crash
The Brief A 27-year-old motorcycle driver was killed in a crash on North Central Expressway in Richardson early Saturday. Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Kelvin Joseph Jr., 25, was arrested for DWI and collision involving death. Police believe Joseph was intoxicated, and the investigation into the crash circumstances is ongoing. DALLAS - One person is dead and a former Dallas Cowboys player is under arrest after a deadly motorcycle crash on North Central Expressway in Richardson on Saturday. What we know Just before 5 a.m., the Richardson Police Department were called to the crash in the northbound lanes of North Central Expressway near Park Boulevard. The female motorcycle driver, 27-year-old Cody Morris of Plano, was dead at the scene when police arrived. No other vehicles were seen at the site of the crash. Shortly after 5:30 a.m., the Plano Police Department received a call from Kelvin Joseph Jr., a former Cowboys cornerback who lives in Allen. Joseph told police he had been in a BMW sedan when he was involved in a crash with the motorcycle. Police said while speaking with Joseph, they came to believe he was intoxicated. The 25-year-old was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and collision involving personal injury or death. Records show Joseph is in the Richardson Jail. At this time, no bond has been set. What we don't know Police say they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. What you can do RIchardson Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to call them at 972-744-4944. The backstory Kelvin Joseph was drafted out of Kentucky by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Joseph was featured on FOX 4's Trackdown following a deadly shooting outside a club on Greenville Avenue in 2022. Joseph was in a car with the suspected gunman the night 20-year-old Cameron Ray was murdered. More than four months after the shooting, he was cleared of any wrongdoing. The cornerback was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2023. He also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings. He currently plays for the DC Defenders. The Source Information in this article comes from the Richardson Police Department and Plano Police Department. Information on Joseph's past comes from previous FOX 4 reporting and Dallas Police.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cowboys' former 2nd-round draft pick arrested, charged after crash kills motorcyclist
Cornerback Kelvin Joseph, a second-round draft pick by the Cowboys in 2021, has been charged in a Dallas-area crash that killed a motorcyclist Saturday morning. A 27-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene of a 5 a.m. crash that shut down northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 75 for more than three hours, per WFAA. Advertisement Joseph himself called police in Plano shortly thereafter to report that he had been involved in a crash with a motorcycle. Authorities observed signs of intoxication during their conversation with the 25-year-old cornerback; he was later arrested and charged with DWI and collision involving personal injury or death. No other vehicles or people were located at the crash site, according to police, and the highway was later re-opened. The Cowboys traded Joseph after just two seasons, sending him to Miami prior to the 2023 campaign. He had since spent time with Seattle, Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Minnesota, though he did not take the field in a game for all of those clubs. He was signed by the DC Defenders of the UFL back in February. Following his rookie season, Joseph was the subject of a March 2022 investigation after a 20-year-old Dallas man was shot and killed outside a nightclub in the Lower Greenville neighborhood. Joseph was originally labeled a "person of interest" in the case after surveillance video helped identify him by a diamond-encrusted necklace bearing his rap name. He claimed through his lawyer that he was a passenger in the car from which the shots were fired, but he denied being the gunman. After meeting with investigators, Joseph was officially cleared, and two men from Joseph's hometown of Baton Rouge were arrested. Advertisement The Cowboys stood by Joseph, and he played in 16 games the following season. Joseph- once the 44th overall pick in the draft- logged 47 tackles, five passes defended, two forced fumbles, and a fumble return for seven yards in a total of 29 game appearances (including playoffs) as a Cowboy. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Former Cowboys CB Kelvin Joseph arrested, charged after fatal accident
