North Raleigh drivers saw a wall of blue lights on May 23 as the Raleigh Police Department’s DWI Enforcement Unit led a multi-agency saturation patrol across some of the city’s busiest corridors. Officers focused on Six Forks Road, Wake Forest Road, Strickland Road and Falls of Neuse Road, stopping motorists along those stretches and carrying out a range of enforcement actions. The sweep was part of the department's ongoing traffic-safety push to cut down on impaired and dangerous driving.
RPD Tallies Charges After North Raleigh Sweep
According to a Facebook post by the Raleigh Police Department, the May 23 saturation patrol led to 208 total charges. That haul included 10 driving-while-impaired cases, 12 driving-while-license-revoked counts and 45 speeding citations. Officers also served four arrest warrants, seized one vehicle and recovered two firearms during the operation. RPD shared the full totals on May 26 after compiling the overnight results.
DWI Unit’s Grant-Funded Mission
The DWI Enforcement Unit was launched with a grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program and carries out targeted patrols, training and public education to reduce alcohol- and drug-related crashes, according to a City of Raleigh news release. “Alcohol-related crashes are painful for everyone involved,” Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce said at the unit’s launch. The GHSP grant paid for officers, equipment and training that support the unit’s work.
Statewide Campaign Backs Local Crackdown
The operation ties into a broader statewide effort to curb impaired driving. The North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program funds local enforcement campaigns and public-education efforts such as “Booze It & Lose It.” State officials say agencies step up patrols and checkpoints during those campaign windows to catch impaired drivers and reduce crashes. That funding helps departments like Raleigh sustain recurring saturation patrols and other targeted enforcement.
Earlier Patrols Set The Tone In 2024
Raleigh has already mounted similar saturation patrols this year. A March operation along New Bern Avenue led to 301 charges and 32 DWI arrests, reflecting the department’s ongoing use of concentrated enforcement, according to a City of Raleigh news release. Those earlier numbers highlight how targeted weekend and holiday operations feed into the DWI Unit’s prevention strategy. Officers say visibility, training and interagency coordination sit at the core of the department’s approach.
What Drivers Can Expect On The Road
The department has urged drivers to plan sober rides and obey speed limits, and notes that the full breakdown of the May 23 patrol is available on the Raleigh Police Department’s Facebook page. Motorists can expect continued targeted enforcement in high-traffic corridors as the DWI Unit and partner agencies carry out more saturation patrols. Anyone with information about impaired drivers or wanted subjects is asked to contact the Raleigh Police Department.
