Berkeley County deputies had a busy Labor Day weekend as part of an enforcement operation aimed at cutting down on unsafe driving. The sheriff’s office says the crackdown resulted in more than 120 traffic citations, five DUI arrests, and several other charges.
Labor Day Weekend Enforcement in Berkeley County
From August 29 through September 1, deputies stepped up patrols to catch reckless and impaired drivers. The operation, timed with the holiday and end of summer travel season, focused on keeping roads safe during one of the most dangerous times of the year.
In total:
123 traffic citations issued
50 warnings given
5 people arrested for driving under the influence
3 open container citations
Citation Breakdown
According to the sheriff’s office, here’s how the numbers stack up:
Speeding – 55
Seatbelt Violations – 15
Driving Under Suspension – 10
No Driver’s License – 8
Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle – 8
Expired Tag – 5
Operating Unregistered Motor Vehicle – 5
Reckless Driving – 3
Careless Driving – 3
Open Container – 3
Texting While Driving – 2
Child Restraint Violation – 1
DUI Arrests – 5
Additionally, 11 vehicles were towed for various offenses.
Criminal Arrests Beyond Traffic Stops
Deputies also made arrests in five ongoing criminal cases over the weekend:
3 habitual traffic offenders
1 suspect with a stolen firearm
1 suspect charged with possession of a firearm by a felon
Sheriff’s Office Statement
Sheriff Duane Lewis praised his deputies and reminded drivers that safety starts with personal responsibility.
“Our priority is always to keep the roads of Berkeley County safe. I’m proud of the work our deputies did over the holiday weekend, and I want to remind the public that traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility.”
Statewide Traffic Deaths Over the Holiday
Labor Day also marked the end of the so-called “100 Deadly Days of Summer,” the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when traffic fatalities are historically at their highest.
According to preliminary figures from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety:
8 people were killed in crashes statewide during the Labor Day travel period.
The numbers from Berkeley County show how seriously law enforcement takes holiday travel safety. While citations and arrests were high, officials say the goal is prevention—making sure fewer families are impacted by reckless or impaired driving. As the sheriff’s office put it, safety is a shared responsibility for everyone on the road.
