WITH A WARNING AGAINST DRIVING IMPAIRED, STATE POLICE URGE MOTORISTS TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR ALIVE AND WELL

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – Losing a loved one caused by drunk driving or any other dangerous driving behavior, is not the way anyone would want to ring in the New Year, so Maryland state troopers have already started their increased patrols aimed at preventing those tragedies.

On the previous New Year’s Eve, there were four alcohol related fatalities in Maryland. Additionally, police made 193 DUI arrests statewide. This year, Maryland State Police have already begun extra enforcement patrol efforts targeting drunk drivers, aggressive drivers, and those exceeding speed limits.

“Motorists will see extra troopers patrolling our highways, working in collaboration with local police agencies this holiday season and into the New Year with a common goal,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Marcus L. Brown said. “Our top priority is to protect our citizens while they are traveling and celebrating, during one of the most joyous times of the year. We urge motorists to plan ahead before they decide to drink, by choosing an alternative to driving while impaired.”

State Police traffic safety initiatives include 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, 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 all troopers, not just those on special assignments, 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.