Multiple agencies join up for DWI checkpoint on New Year’s Eve

Jessica Webb

editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com

Swain County Sheriff’s Office coordinated a DWI checkpoint on New Year’s Eve as part of the statewide Booze It & Lose It Holiday Enforcement campaign. The multi-agency event resulted in 27 citations. One DWI was issued later in the night at a motor vehicle crash in the Nantahala Gorge.

The Booze It and Lose It holiday effort is the largest campaign run each year by the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program.

Law enforcement agents involved also included the district attorney’s office, Cherokee Indian Police, Swain County probation, Graham County Sheriff’s Department, Bryson City Police, North Carolina Highway Patrol, West Swain Fire Department, Swain County Rescue Squad, NC Department of Transportation and even a county commissioner.

A DWI enforcement BAT mobile also drove in from Marion, North Carolina. The bus included two stations for roadside forensic testing for alcohol. The checkpoint began around 6 p.m. on 28 North close to the Swain-Graham county line. About 9 p.m., law enforcement agents dispersed to other locations including near the casino in Cherokee and at Hyatt Creek.

Although the evening was warm for New Year’s Eve, it was extremely foggy, which may have contributed to fewer drivers on the road.

Motorists caught driving while impaired could face jail time, lose their driving privileges and pay an average of $10,000 in fines, towing fees and other expenses associated with a DWI.

Through Dec. 13, NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program recorded 432 people have been killed in North Carolina in alcohol- or drug-related crashes.

The following charges were issued:

Drug violations: 2

Warrant Arrests: 1

Registration Violations: 6

Open Container: 1

Driving While License Revoked: 1

Seatbelt violation: 1

Other violations: 15