The N.C. Highway Patrol will conduct Operation Summer Heat a 7-day long DWI crackdown in the state's counties with the highest number of alcohol related collisions during the week of August 7th – August 13th.

The goal of Summer Heat is to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities by increasing DWI patrols in areas that have a demonstrated history of alcohol related collisions or arrests. The Patrol will conduct checkpoints in several of the identified counties.

Last year Troopers investigated 1,161 fatalities statewide. Of those 169 were alcohol related. To date this year Troopers have investigated 678 fatalities, of those 99 were alcohol related. Troopers will be enforcing all traffic laws during the week however they will focus their enforcement efforts on motorists who are driving while impaired.

A kick-off press event will be held on Monday, August 7th, at 11:00 a.m. at Troop C Headquarters, 1831 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh. Bryan Beatty, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, and Colonel Fletcher Clay, Commander of the Highway Patrol, will speak at the event.