Wake County law enforcement to increase patrols as revelers celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
More law enforcement will patrol the roads in Wake County this St. Patrick’s Day weekend to cut down on drunk drivers.
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office said it will increase its patrols during the statewide St. Patrick’s Day Booze It or Lose It enforcement campaign from March 13 to 19.
The Raleigh Police Department said it also will have more police on the roads. The patrols are meant to make sure people aren’t drinking and driving after celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, which is on Thursday this year.
“We urge everyone in Wake County to drink responsibly and avoid driving if they have consumed alcohol,” Sheriff Willie Rowe said in a news release. “It is crucial to plan ahead and have a designated driver or a reliable means of transportation to ensure a safe journey home. By doing so, you not only protect yourself but also others on the road from the risk of serious injury or death.”
Last year, in the days before and after St. Patrick’s Day, there were 225 documented deaths or serious injuries of motorists from March 13 to 19, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
There were a total of 1,082 alcohol-related crashes in North Carolina, with 37 fatalities attributed to alcohol in the state in all of 2022, the figures show.
In Wake County during recent St. Patrick’s Day campaigns, there were:
▪ One death and six serious injuries due to crashes, and one death and one serious injury in alcohol-related crashes in 2021.
▪ Two deaths and six serious injuries due to crashes, and four serious injuries in alcohol-related crashes in 2020.
This story was originally published March 16, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
