Drunken driving arrests are up in Charleston and North Charleston this year compared to last year, according to police spokesmen in both cities.
Through Nov. 30, Charleston police made 531 DUI arrests in 2024, compared to 419 at the same time last year. In North Charleston, officers made 112 arrests this year to date, compared to 70 in the same period last year.
There could be a lot of different reasons for the increases, Charleston police spokesman Christopher Stinson said, especially considering a continuing reduction in DUI-related traffic fatalities. Higher arrests may not necessarily mean more people are driving under the influence, but could be a sign that police have been more thorough in enforcement.
“This is something we look for in trends,” Stinson said. “We’re hoping with this decrease in fatalities, and increase in arrests, that we’re moving in the right direction.”
Exact numbers for DUI-related fatalities were not immediately available.
Nicholas Pye, a Charleston-based trooper with the S.C. Highway Patrol (SCHP), said he’s also noticed the downward trend.
“There’s a lot of factors that play into it,” he said. “How many more people are moving to Charleston, for example? There’s different trends that happen, and preliminary numbers showing we’re down on fatalities — that’s always a good thing.”
Enforcement to tighten during holidays
Several local police departments partnered with the SCHP for its annual Sober or Slammer campaign that kicked off last week. The campaign encourages people to plan ahead during the holiday season and avoid getting behind the wheel if they plan on drinking.
Pye said campaigns plus firm and frequent reminders are effective at reducing DUI-related incidents during the holidays. He said while there’s probably a much higher percentage of people who drink on New Year’s Eve than any other day of the year, he doesn’t see it as the worst night of the year on roads. A big reason: People often plan ahead.
“This time of year, there are a lot more holiday parties, a lot more hanging out with friends and family, and people are going to consume alcohol,” Pye said. “It comes down to each individual person to say, ‘Hey, I’m not going to make this terrible decision.’ But unfortunately, around this time of year, we see poor planning on everyone’s part, and that’s where we get into trouble.”
Stinson said the campaign is meant to show a united front with surrounding agencies.
“There are so many options out there to get home safely these days,” he said. “Please make a plan. Use these ride-share services. There’s just no excuse to drive drunk in 2024.”
Pye said it’s also encouraging to see more people using ride-share services at night.
“It’s a good sign when we’re out on a Saturday or Sunday night and we see all these cars driving by us with the Uber or Lyft light on,” he said.
“We’re doing our job if we pull over someone who is driving under the influence, of course, but we want to make sure people never get behind the wheel of a car impaired in the first place.”
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