Sgt. C.L. Johnston of the State Highway Patrol believes someone reading this article will be arrested for driving while impaired this Fourth of July weekend.

"It never fails," he said. "You can put it in the paper we're saying ‘Don't drink and drive,' but somebody out there reading this article is going to get arrested for driving while impaired.

"They're going to hear about not drinking and driving, but somebody will, so we'll be out there trying to catch them."

Johnston and the other troopers who cover Lenoir and Jones counties aren't alone in their efforts to crack down on lawbreakers of the motorist kind.

Troopers across North Carolina will be out in full force through Sunday as part of "Operation Firecracker," which will focus on impaired driving and include aggressive enforcement of all motor vehicle laws.

"Each year, injury and death ruin many holiday plans through carelessness and poor planning," Trooper J.S. Collins said. "Speeding drivers and unbelted occupants continue to contribute to death on our highways."

Collins continued: "Physical and mental impairment caused by drinking alcohol may sometimes have subtle initial effects but have devastating consequences when driving a car."

Those devastating consequences are exactly what troopers are trying to avoid in Lenoir and Jones counties, which yielded eight drunken driving charges in seven days last year.

"I know there will be several checkpoints set up in this area," Johnston said. "If you're driving from Raleigh to the beach, you'll probably go through more than one."

Justin Schoenberger can be reached at (252) 559-1075 or jschoenberger@freedomenc.com.

By the Numbers
Highway Patrol citations issued in Lenoir and Jones Counties June 30 to July 6, 2008:
111 - speeding
37 - seatbelt and child restraint
8 - drunken driving
345 - total charges

All of North Carolina June 30 through July 6, 2008:
377 - alcohol-related crashes
322 - drivers were injured in traffic-related crashes
12 - people died
Source: State Highway Patrol