Virtually every officer from every law enforcement agency is expected to be looking for impaired Memorial Day celebrants through the long holiday weekend.
Drivers will be targeted in the “Click It or Ticket” effort, and boaters will be under the eye of the Wildlife Resources Commission as the On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive focuses on impaired and unsafe boaters.
The holiday marks the start of the summer season, as well as one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
On the land, Highway Patrol, sheriff’s deputies and local law enforcement officers will be conducted safety checkpoints as well as enhanced patrols.
During last year’s enforcement campaign, the Highway Patrol said, law enforcement officers issued 4,762 citations statewide for people not wearing the proper restraints.
In 2024, more than 460 people were killed and 1,027 others seriously injured because they were not wearing seat belts or child safety seats.
North Carolina’s award-winning boating safety enforcement program will have every Wildlife officer patrolling waterways through the end of the month as well. In addition to safety inspections, officers will be checking fishing licenses and ensuring proper use of personal floatation devices.
So far, in 2026, there have been 26 boating incidents investigated statewide, including five fatalities. Alcohol was a factor in three of those incidents.
In 2025, the WRC said, officers investigated 138 boating accidents, a 9.2 percent decrease from 2024. Operators not paying attention was the number one cause. A total of 25 boat crashes led to 26 fatalities on the water statewide last year, an increase of 66 percent. Alcohol was involved in four crashes, and only six of the 26 fatalities involved boaters who were wearing floatation devices.
The WRC’s effort coordinates enforcement activity with troopers and deputies, catching suspected impaired drivers before they can get back on the road.
The majority of boating accidents occur during the months of June, July and August, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
“While the overall number of boating incidents investigated has been declining in recent years, last year we saw a troubling rise in fatal boating incidents,” said WRC Lt. Anna Barbosa. “So far this year, fatalities have currently surpassed last year’s numbers. Our goal is for everyone to enjoy their day on the water and return home safely. To do so, avoid alcohol while boating—or if you choose to drink, designate a sober operator. And remember, life jackets save lives—don’t just have enough on board. Make sure everyone wears one.”
