As Scotland County residents ring in the new year, law enforcement is looking to be out in force.

"If you are going to go out and drink and bring in the new year, please remember that drinking and driving is against the law," Laurinburg Police Chief John Evans said.

His officers will be out in force this holiday.

"If you are going to go out and party, please have a designated driver that does not drink or partake in an alcoholic beverage," Evans said.

Too many people think they are able to drive despite being intoxicated, according to Evans, which leads to numerous accidents.

He also said that alcohol-enforcement is just part of the DWI stops.

"Driving while impaired means exactly just that, driving while impaired," Evans said.

Driving after using any other drug that could impair one's judgment or reflexes could also lead to a DWI citation, according to the police chief.

"Impaired drivers have lost their ability to judge distances," said Lt. Fred McQueen, LPD.

A three-quarters of a second response time slows to several seconds for those who are impaired, McQueen said, leading to accidents.

He said nearly 80 percent of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol.

Sheriff Shep Jones said saturations on major routes of travel and roadblocks will be seen throughout the weekend in an effort to prevent alcohol-related accidents.

"As we all know, drinking and driving is unsafe," Jones said. "On a yearly basis, we have so many people that lose their lives and sustain injuries over the holidays by drinking and driving."

Local figures for the Booze It & Lose It campaign look good, according to Laurinburg and Scotland officers.

McQueen said city officers issued eight charges of driving while impaired, 73 speeding tickets, 14 child restraint violations, 14 seat belt violations, 12 driving without insurance, 20 driving while license revoked, three reckless driving, 137 other traffic violations, 21 drug arrests, five felony arrests and 107 other criminal violations.

Lt. Tommy Butler said the Scotland County Sheriff's office has also been successful with its campaign, issuing 161 charges in the first four weeks of Booze It & Lose It.

Deputies gave out six citations for driving while impaired, 117 speeding tickets, 14 seat belt violations, 11 child restraint violations and issued 19 other traffic charges.

Deputies also arrested one person with outstanding warrants and recovered a stolen car during the campaign, a 2009 Honda Accord belonging to Laurinburg City Manager Ed Burchins.

Butler, along with other Scotland deputies, Highway Patrol troopers, Laurinburg police officers and Hamlet police officers, will be on the road tonight and throughout the weekend looking for those who may be impaired.