The campaign, hosted by the City of Fayetteville in partnership with the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program, aims to keep motorists safe by discouraging drinking and driving during the busy holiday weekend.
The event took place at 10 a.m. at the U.S. Airborne & Special Operations Museum.
"There's one statistic I want you to remember. Collisions and deaths caused by impaired driving are 100% preventable," said Fayetteville Police Chief Roberto Bryan Jr.
The dangers of impaired driving hit close to home for Cumberland County Sheriff Johnathan Morgan, who recalled the tragic loss of Deputy Oscar Yovani Bolanos-Anavisca Jr.
The 23-year-old deputy was investigating a robbery in Fayetteville on Dec. 16, 2022, when Nicholas Terlizzi, who was driving while impaired, ran a red light and struck him as he crossed the street.
"He always had a smile on his face. And he was a good deputy and a good person," Morgan said. "No matter how you lose them, it's tough. It affected the entire agency."
Law enforcement officials said Thursday's event serves as a stark reminder that one bad decision can have deadly consequences.
"If you booze it in Fayetteville or Cumberland County, our officers, deputies and troopers will be on the lookout and take action," Bryan said.
Since 2025, the Fayetteville Police Department has responded to 200 crashes involving impaired drivers and arrested more than 600 people on impaired driving charges.
To bolster enforcement efforts this year, six Breath Alcohol Testing Mobiles, known as BATMobiles, will be deployed across the state from Aug. 31 through Sept. 13.
"When law enforcement catches someone and needs to process a suspected impaired driver, this is where they will sometimes go to be processed," said Mark Ezzell, director of the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program.
Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin urged residents to celebrate responsibly.
"Enjoy yourself, enjoy your families. But let's put priorities first and make sure that we don't make bad decisions that cost the life of yourself or someone else," Colvin said.
Terlizzi is serving an eight-year sentence for felony death by vehicle. His projected release date is October 2028.
Download the ABC11 News app