Charleston Police Department recorded nearly 30 DUI arrests from December 20 through January 2 in the previous year, highlighting heightened risks during the holiday season. Over the last five years, these arrest numbers have fluctuated amid increased celebrations and alcohol consumption.
Enforcement Trends
Local agencies intensify DUI checkpoints and patrols during holidays, with recent efforts in areas like Summerville and Berkeley County on December 19. Through November 30, 2024, Charleston saw 531 arrests, up from 419 the prior year, signaling a rising trend.​
Safety Measures
Police urge planning ahead with rideshares or sober drivers, especially on high-traffic nights near bars and bridges. South Carolina’s high impaired driving fatality rate drives these data-focused operations.
- Dec. 20, 2020 – Jan. 2, 2021 – 17 DUI arrests
- Dec. 20, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022 – 12 DUI arrests
- Dec. 20, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023 – 24 DUI arrests
- Dec. 20, 2023 – Jan. 2, 2024 – 18 DUI arrests
- Dec. 20, 2024 – Jan. 2, 2025 – 28 DUI arrests
Sergeant Craig DuBose of the Charleston Police Department notes increased alcohol-related offenses during the holidays, aligning with South Carolina’s highest 2023 rate of alcohol-impaired driving deaths at 0.68 per 100 million miles driven. Alana Long shares her heartbreaking story of losing her unborn son Travis to a drunk driver five years ago, a loss that profoundly impacts her family, especially around holidays.
Personal Impact
Long’s surviving seven-year-old son often expresses wishes for a sibling, intensifying the grief during family milestones like opening presents. She has channeled this pain into advocacy, urging people to skip that extra drink when heading to holiday parties.
Safety Initiatives
Charleston’s King Street safety program ramps up patrols amid holiday visitors replacing college crowds. DuBose and Long emphasize celebrating responsibly by driving sober and buckling up to prevent irreversible tragedies.
