TROOPERS FOCUS ON DUI, SPEED, AGGRESSIVE DRIVING DURING HOLIDAY SEASON; CRIME PREVENTION PATROLS ALSO UNDERWAY

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – Not much can take the cheer out of the holidays faster than a needless injury or death caused by dangerous driving behaviors, so Maryland state troopers have already launched increased and directed patrols aimed at preventing those tragedies.

Just last week, on the evening of November 14, 2011 and less than an hour apart, two people died in Maryland at the hands of suspected drunk drivers. Shortly after 6:30 p.m. in Cecil County, a motorcyclist was stopped waiting to make a turn when he was struck from behind by a pickup truck and killed. The driver of the pickup was impaired by alcohol. Riding in the pickup were the two teenaged daughters of the driver.

Less than an hour later in Prince George’s County, a concerned citizen called Maryland State Police to report a suspected drunk driver. Moments later, the driver left the roadway and struck a pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers took the driver into custody and found he had not only been drinking, but was in possession of marijuana and oxycontin.

Maryland State Police have already begun extra enforcement patrol efforts targeting drunk drivers, aggressive drivers, and those exceeding speed limits. Last weekend, troopers conducted a joint DUI sobriety checkpoint with Prince George’s County Police. Troopers from the Golden Ring Barrack will be working with Baltimore County Police in an enforcement effort this week. Extra patrols and cooperative enforcement initiatives with local law enforcement agencies will continue throughout the state during the next six weeks.

“We take seriously the important and increased responsibility law enforcement has to protect our citizens while they are traveling or shopping during the holiday season,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Marcus L. Brown said. “Extra troopers, working in cooperation with local police agencies, will increase our ability to appropriately respond to the increase in unsafe drivers and criminal activity this time of year can bring. I urge everyone to make safe driving a priority and to employ appropriate crime prevention techniques while shopping in the coming weeks.”

State Police traffic safety initiatives include orders for DUI saturation patrols to be conducted by troopers at each of the 22 barracks in Maryland. Troopers will also be conducting sobriety checkpoints at various locations, usually in cooperation with other state and local police departments. Extra troopers will be on grant funded overtime supplied by the Maryland Highway Safety Office and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Speed and aggressive driving enforcement will also be priorities for troopers. High visibility enforcement is planned on Maryland roads, with a special emphasis on interstates and major highways where the majority of travel will be occurring. Colonel Brown has ordered that all troopers, not just those on special assignments, are to be working DUI, speed and aggressive driving enforcement whenever they are not handling a call for service. Barrack commanders will be focusing these special enforcement efforts in areas where they have experienced the most crashes related to DUI, speed, and aggressive driving.

Maryland is experiencing record low crime rates, but troopers know crime can spike when criminals sense an increase in opportunities. That is why troopers will also be conducing crime prevention patrols in shopping districts within their jurisdictions. Shoppers can expect to see marked patrol cars moving through parking lots throughout Maryland. Plainclothes troopers will also be working crime suppression assignments in shopping areas.

Shoppers are encouraged to use common sense and apply some basic crime prevention tips to stay safe during the shopping season. Troopers encourage shoppers to:
-park in well-lit areas;
-go shopping with one or more friends if possible;
-always be aware of your surroundings and of people who may be acting suspiciously;
-report suspicious circumstances or persons to security or police right away;
-do not leave purchases, pocketbooks, cell phones, or other valuables visible inside your vehicle;
-always lock your car and take the key.