November 28, 2007 8:00 AM, EST

N.C. Issues 50,000 Tickets in Speeding Crackdown

More than 50,000 motorists were ticketed during a weeklong, statewide crackdown on speeders by the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Associated Press reported.

Troopers issued 51,198 charges during what they called Operation Slow Down. Of those citations, 24, 274 were for speeding and 954 were for driving while impaired, AP said.

A Highway Patrol spokesman said it plans to continue the campaign using helicopters, motorcycles and unmarked patrol cars, AP reported.