(PERRYVILLE, MD) – A cooperative police effort in Cecil County led to hundreds of traffic citations, including more than 100 for toll violations, as police targeted toll evaders at one of Maryland’s busiest toll plazas.
“Operation Prevent”, conducted November 14 through November 16, 2012, targeted commercial vehicles traveling through the Tydings Bridge toll plaza on I-95 in Cecil County. Troopers joined forces with allied state and local law enforcement agencies to saturate the area surrounding the toll plaza. This effort was to identify commercial vehicles that were avoiding paying tolls or had registration or license violations, as well as any criminal or illegal drug activities.
During the operation, police stopped 295 vehicles. Those stops resulted in 121 toll violations and 36 registration plate violations, including a number of vehicles with altered plates. A total of 233 citations and 141 warnings were issued. One driver was arrested for an outstanding warrant. There were 136 lane violations, five motorists were charged with theft for intentionally avoiding paying tolls and a drug arrest was made. Inspectors from the Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police and the Federal Motor Vehicle Carrier Safety Administration conducted 29 commercial vehicle inspections. These inspections lead to ten drivers being placed out of service for having suspended licenses.
According to the Maryland Transportation Authority, in the past year there have been over 20,500 toll violations at the plaza. Those toll violations amounted to approximately $740,450 in lost revenue. Violators are committing this crime by altering their vehicle registrations, using devices that obstruct all or part of their registration plates, or simply removing the plates.
The purpose of “Operation Prevent” is to ensure that commercial vehicles and their drivers meet state and federal safety regulations while complying with the state laws intended to promote highway safety in Maryland. The cooperation of the Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Perryville Police Department, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration made “Operation Prevent” an overwhelming success. Similar operations will be held in the future.
ReplyDeleteWOW!...Looks like one of those traffic cameras may be needed there.
ReplyDeleteCracking down on violators may put Maryland in the black this year.
Cracking down on violators may put Maryland in the black this year.
ReplyDeleteNovember 20, 2012 11:35 AM
lmao. Are you really serious?? This money has already been spent, before they have collected it.
This screwed up state just keeps getting worse and worse.