Four mobile testing labs and law enforcement from nine agencies issued 89 citations, charged one person with driving while impaired and arrested a wanted fugitive Thursday (May 30).
Operation Heat Wave was coordinated by the Columbus Sheriff’s Office as part of the Memorial Day Click it or Ticket/Don’t Drink and Drive effort. The CCSO was joined by Chadbourn, Tabor City, Wilmington and Lumberton Police, State Troopers and deputies from Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick counties. Four mobile Blood Alcohol Testing labs – commonly called the BAT Mobile – were deployed here. The labs have workspaces for officers as well as processing stations and a magistrate
Columbus was the starting point of three nights of saturation patrols throughout the region.
“Hosting the first night of ‘Operation Heat Wave’ has been a privilege,” Sheriff Bill Rogers said. “The dedication and cooperation demonstrated by our regional law enforcement agencies have been outstanding. United, we are dedicated in our commitment to enhancing the safety and well-being of our communities by reducing traffic-related incidents.”
In a press release, the CCSO said officers were deployed from 8 p.m. until midnight, conducting license checks and saturation patrols across the county. Among the citations were one seatbelt violation, seven for driving while license revoked, five drivers with no insurance, five with no operator’s license, and 25 other violations.
The Memorial Day Click It or Ticket program marks the start of the most dangerous time of the year on state highways. The holiday is also the start of the “100 Deadliest Days” for young drivers, who are in disproportionately more serious crashes as school ends for the year.
