Multi-Agency Traffic Enforcement Operation Results in More Than 100 Charges in Lenoir County
The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office concluded its participation in the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) “Move Over or Get Pulled Over” campaign with a large-scale multi-agency enforcement operation conducted Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Hosted by the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reduction Team, the operation focused on proactive enforcement targeting impaired driving, speeding, reckless driving, and other dangerous behaviors on roadways throughout Lenoir County.
A total of 27 deputies and officers from agencies across eastern North Carolina participated in the operation. Assisting agencies included the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reduction Team, Street Crimes and Rapid Response Team, and Patrol Division B-Shift, along with the sheriff’s offices of Wayne, Onslow, Craven, Duplin, Jones, Pamlico, and Carteret counties. Municipal agencies participating included the Pink Hill, Grifton, Morehead City, Smithfield, and Mount Olive police departments.
The operation consisted of targeted saturation patrols and a checkpoint in areas identified as having a high incidence of traffic crashes.
During the operation, law enforcement officers issued 105 charges and 25 warnings. Notable enforcement actions included:
4 Move Over violations
5 impaired driving charges, including:
3 Driving While Impaired (DWI)
1 DWI Under 21
1 DWI Drug
6 Open Container violations
20 Speeding violations
2 Reckless Driving charges
5 Seat Belt/Child Restraint violations
18 Driving While License Revoked/No Operator’s License violations
5 misdemeanor criminal charges
2 drug charges
Service of 4 Orders for Arrest
In addition, deputies seized one firearm for a concealed carry violation and seized one vehicle as part of a DWI investigation.
The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office extends its appreciation to the North Carolina Forensic Tests for Alcohol Branch’s BAT Mobile, as well as the Lenoir County Emergency Management Communications Center, Lenoir County Magistrate’s Office, and the Lenoir County Detention Center for their support in making this operation possible.
Sergeant Chris Little of the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office GHSP Crash Reduction Team stated:
“The cooperation of regional agencies across North Carolina participating in these Governor’s Highway Safety campaigns and initiatives empowers agencies to conduct necessary and relevant enforcement in our communities to combat dangerous driving habits on our roadways. These partnerships not only keep our communities safer but also protect the families and hard-working citizens across eastern North Carolina. I am proud and thankful that our partnerships to combat impaired driving, dangerous and aggressive driving, and criminal activity on our roadways are consistently making our communities safer. A crash is never just a statistic; it is a name belonging to a family member, a friend, or a neighbor.”
