Eight different law enforcement agencies and four mobile blood alcohol testing units will be in Columbus Thursday as part of the Memorial Day Click or Ticket program.
“Our primary goal with this campaign is not to only make arrests or issue tickets, but to safeguard our community,” Sheriff Bill Rogers said in a press release. “Seat belts save lives and ensuring that everyone is buckled up is one of the simplest ways to reduce injuries and fatalities on our roads.”
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office is collaborating with units and personnel from the Wilmington, Lumberton and Jacksonville Police Departments, along with deputies from New Hanover, Brunswick, Bladen, and Pender counties. These agencies will be fully authorized to make traffic stops within Columbus County during the event.
The effort will also include four Breath Alcohol Testing (BAT) mobile units across the county. The mobile units are furnished with a magistrate office, multiple breath alcohol testing stations equipped with Evidential Breath Alcohol testing instruments, fingerprinting equipment, and other necessities required to conduct a large-scale saturation event. The BAT-mobiles, as they are commonly called, allow suspects to be processed in the field, then transferred to a detention center in groups, increasing the amount of time officers can spend at checkpoints and patrolling.
Memorial Day weekend historically sees a spike in traffic incidents. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2022 alone, 57 percent of people killed in crashes at night were unbuckled, 14 percent higher than those during the day. These statistics underscore the importance of always wearing a seat belt, regardless of the time of day, Rogers said.
“We want everyone to enjoy their holiday weekends safely,” said Sheriff Bill Rogers. “Our efforts through the Click It or Ticket campaign are about protecting our community members and preventing tragedies before they happen. By working together with neighboring agencies, we can cover more ground and ensure a safer environment for all travelers.
“We urge all drivers and passengers to buckle up, every trip, every time. Your safety is our top priority.”
