DWI arrests are surging in Fletcher; Police Chief credits ‘diligence’

FLETCHER, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Town of Fletcher saw a sharp increase in DWI arrests in 2023 and is on pace to shatter the mark again in 2024, Police Chief Daniel D. Terry told 828newsNOW on Monday.

The town, which touches Interstate 26 and is bisected by a busy commercial stretch of Hendersonville Road, recorded 53 arrests for Driving While Impaired in 2023, a sharp increase from 36 in 2022.

The 2023 figure was more than three times the number of DWI arrests the town had during the Covid-19 years, 16 in 2020 and 17 in 2021.

Fletcher police already have racked up more than that, 18 arrests, through the first three months of 2024, putting the town on pace for up to 72 DWI arrests if the trend holds.

Police Chief Terry discussed the issue in a recent report to the Town Council and was asked for details and an explanation from 828newsNOW.

In a written reply, Terry said it is impossible to tell how many people on the roadways are driving impaired at any given time, or how many are deterred by enforcement efforts.

Terry said his subjective opinion, however, is not that there are more violations than in the past. He believes it’s due to his department’s operations and the “diligence of the officers that make up the Fletcher Police Department.”

Like many other departments around the country, Fletcher’s police department struggled with recruiting and retaining officers in the past. “Therefore, when staffing is low, other activities, such as traffic stops and DWI enforcement, may receive less attention,” he said.

“Presently, our staffing challenges have improved, allowing us to increase our focus on traffic safety issues,” Terry said.
He said his department emphasizes training in DWI enforcement so officers are more confident in identifying indicators of possible impairment and meeting stringent standards for investigations and arrests.

“In summary,” Terry wrote, “I believe the recent increase in staffing, commitment to training, and the diligence of our officers in addressing issues that affect public safety, to include driving while impaired offenses, is responsible for the department’s recent increase in DWI arrests.”