During the week of July 4, the Columbus Police Department, in cooperation with the North Carolina Governors Highway Safety Program and other law enforcement agencies across the state, participated in the Operation Firecracker Booze It & Lose It highway safety campaign.

During this period, officers with the Columbus Police Department arrested five impaired drivers and cited 10 speeders, two uninsured motorists, three reckless drivers, and four individuals for driving while licensed revoked.

During the same period, the Columbus Police Department transported 10 prisoners, including apprending one wanted individual, and one felony arrest. Four drug violations and 10 other criminal violations were also charged.

Officials say no other criminal offense is responsible for as many deaths and injuries or as much property damage than driving while impaired. In fact, they say, impaired drivers injure or kill a person every minute in the United States. North Carolina ranks seventh in the nation for DWI related deaths, and 31 percent of fatal crashes were determined to be alcohol related.

Columbus police officials say they hope everyone had a&bsp; happy and safe July 4th celebration and remind everyone always to buckle up, obey the speed limit and never drink and drive.