STATE POLICE INITIATE 'OPERATION TAILGATE'

The Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division will be conducting “Operation Tailgate”, an intense enforcement initiative targeting unsafe and overweight commercial vehicles in Prince George’s County today.     
    

“Operation Tailgate” will target commercial trucks and buses traveling the I-95/I-495 corridor in Prince Georges County.  State Police personnel, along with allied state and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies will be operating stationary inspections, as well as, numerous roving patrols in the area.  Several Maryland State Police commercial vehicle teams will be patrolling I-495.  They will be on the lookout for commercial vehicles speeding or operating in an unsafe manner.
    
Maryland State Troopers, truck inspectors, K-9 Units and sworn personnel from the Maryland State Police Special Operations Division, in conjunction with inspectors from the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and a number of other local and county police agencies will assist in the inspection and enforcement activities.  During the inspection process, efforts will be focused on locating wanted fugitives, impaired drivers, unqualified commercial vehicle operators, fraudulent documents, and other unlawful behavior.
   
During the last “Operation Tailgate”, in July 2011, a total of 351 commercial vehicles were inspected.  Of those, 35 vehicles were placed out of service due to serious equipment violations.  Another 25 drivers were placed out of service.
   
Troopers issued 108 traffic citations and 128 warnings.  Two drivers were arrested on outstanding warrants and one passenger of a commercial truck was arrested for the possession of marijuana.
   
The highly traveled Interstate 495 is one of the identified commercial vehicle high crash corridors in Maryland.  The purpose of “Operation Tailgate” is to ensure trucks, buses, commercial vehicles and their drivers meet state and federal safety regulations while complying with the laws intended to promote highway safety in Maryland.