If you’re traveling around Moore County or anywhere across North Carolina this Fourth of July week, expect to see more law enforcement on the roads. The annual Operation Firecracker Booze It and Lose It campaign is officially underway, bringing increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints through July 5.
The statewide initiative is designed to reduce impaired driving during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. Officials say the goal is simple: encourage drivers to make safe choices before getting behind the wheel.
Whether you’re heading to fireworks in Southern Pines, spending the day at the lake, or traveling to the beach, planning ahead can help keep everyone safe.
Operation Firecracker Booze It and Lose It Targets Impaired Driving
The Governor’s Highway Safety Program launched Operation Firecracker Booze It and Lose It to remind drivers that impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of deadly crashes in North Carolina.
Law enforcement agencies across the state are increasing patrols while conducting sobriety checkpoints throughout the holiday period. The campaign runs through Saturday, July 5.
According to state transportation officials, nearly 1,000 DWI arrests were made during last year’s holiday enforcement campaign. Officials hope increased visibility and public awareness will encourage drivers to make safer decisions before celebrating.
What Moore County Drivers Should Know
Residents in Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen, Carthage and surrounding communities should expect to see additional officers on highways and local roads during the holiday weekend.
If alcohol is part of your celebration, officials recommend choosing a designated driver before leaving home, arranging a rideshare, calling a taxi or staying overnight if necessary. Friends and family are also encouraged to help prevent impaired driving by offering a safe ride home.
Holiday weekends often bring heavier traffic throughout the Sandhills as residents travel to cookouts, community celebrations and fireworks displays. Giving yourself extra travel time and staying alert can help reduce the risk of crashes.
Safe Choices Make a Safer Holiday
Officials say the Fourth of July is meant to be a time for family, friends and celebration—not preventable tragedies on North Carolina’s highways.
Drivers are reminded to buckle up, avoid distractions, obey posted speed limits and never drive while impaired. Planning ahead before celebrations begin remains one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and others on the road.
More information about highway safety campaigns is available through the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Stay with Star 102.5 and Pulse of the Pines for continuing coverage of this story and more local news from across Moore County and the Sandhills.
