(PIKESVILLE, Md.) —As Cinco de Mayo approaches on Saturday, Maryland State Police are urging those who plan to celebrate with alcohol to be safe and smart and avoid impaired and distracted driving.
With an increase in impaired drivers expected throughout the state this weekend, state police will be conducting saturation patrols at each of the 23 barracks focusing on impaired, aggressive and distracted driving. Enforcement this weekend will be bolstered by impaired driving saturation patrol funds from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office.
Initiatives will include saturation patrols in areas known to have a higher number of DUI crashes or arrests and sobriety checkpoints, which are also conducted in locations where experience indicates they are most appropriate. Additional troopers will be assigned as needed. From May 5-7, 2017, troopers made 101 DUI arrests, 69 criminal arrests and 17 controlled dangerous substance arrests while also issuing 553 speeding citations, 82 seatbelt citations and 1,792 citations for other violations.
The State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort Team, otherwise known as the SPIDRE team, will also be out in full force this weekend. Since its inception in May 2013, the SPIDRE team has made 2,664 DUI arrests, 124 criminal arrests and 8,151 traffic stops while also issuing 18,140 citations and 3,955 warnings. The goal of the SPIDRE team is to focus on reducing alcohol related crashes in Maryland by targeting areas across the state with high crash rates involving impaired drivers.
Every year more than 160 lives are lost in Maryland in crashes involving impaired drivers and thousands more are injured according to the Maryland Department of Transportation. Make sure that if you drink, you don’t drive and if you drive, don’t drink this weekend.
If you are attending a Cinco de Mayo gathering:
• Designate your sober driver in advance and give that person your car keys.
• If you’re planning on driving, avoid drinking.
• Consider using public transportation, call a taxi or use a ride-share service if you don’t have a sober driver.
• Don’t let a friend drive if you think they are impaired.
• If you see someone who you believe is driving impaired, call police.
• Always buckle up.
• Don’t text, use a cellphone that is not hands-free or drive distracted.
If you are hosting a Cinco de Mayo gathering:
• Remember, you can be held liable if someone you served alcohol to ends up in an impaired-driving crash.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages.
• Ensure sober drivers or alternative modes of transportation are set up in advance for guest who are planning to drink alcoholic beverages.
• Have contact information for local taxi companies readily available.
• Take away the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving impaired.
This is a great opportunity for the State to make some money off the public. It won’t matter if any property gets damaged. It won’t matter if anyone gets hurt. If your calibrated test result is a certain quantitative amount your hard earned money will be confiscated.
ReplyDeleteGive us Common Law, or give us tyranny!
cinco de mayo.....saturation patrols in areas known to have a higher number of DUI crashes or arrests and sobriety checkpoints
ReplyDeleteso I guess they are telling us they will be set up outside every poultry plant on the shore?
MSP - Never let a holiday go to waste when you can collect extra revenue and OT for yourselves.
ReplyDelete726
ReplyDeleteBingo - you nailed it
And that is the very definition of: Facist Police State
Perfect learning moment.
If they like Mexico so much, why are they in the US celebrating. Just go back to the country you are celebrating.
ReplyDeleteExactly
Delete8:05 Try googling it. It is an american holiday brought to you by marketing companies hired to sell more imported beer from Mexico. SMH
ReplyDeleteI googled it. It is a Mexican holiday celebrating their victory over the French on May 5th 1862. Where did you come up with your B.S
DeleteIt would be fun if all MSP troopers would wear sombreros during traffic stops on Cinco de Mayo. The kind with the dangling pom poms.
ReplyDeleteNice idea. Gets in the spirit of things.
DeleteSet up outside Roads and Wreck& Parks?
ReplyDeleteWhen is Cinco de Mayo this year?
ReplyDeleteIt’s early this year. It’s may 5th, crazy!
DeleteWill be at Oc billards.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have some large ICE letters printed and stick then to my white van.
ReplyDeleteDid I move to Mexico?
ReplyDelete939
ReplyDeleteHilarious!
5:25 It is a Mexican holiday but in Mexico it is not celebrated by drinking all day and sponsored by Corona.
ReplyDeleteI am 5:25. And you are correct. In Mexico it isn't celebrated as much, but here for some reason it is. I have never understood this. It makes me puke when they advertise this as a holiday.
DeleteLike it does 4th of July?
Delete3:18. I must know what the heck you're talking about.
DeleteYou don't see people in Mexico getting drunk on our 4th of July. The beer companies sold americans a story about cinco de mayo to sell mexican beer. You bought it hook line and sinko.
ReplyDeleteI did not buy crap. There are dummies in this country that get drunk on May the 5th just to get drunk. There are also the Mexicans that celebrate May. 5 in our country to laugh at us.
ReplyDeleteI'm laughing at you now, amigo.
ReplyDeleteIdentify yourself. ICE. are coming for you. Now who's laughing?
DeleteTrump is going to deport you and any rats you may have produced. See ya amigo
ReplyDeleteLock him up.
ReplyDeleteI'm here legally and nothing you can do about it. LMAO
ReplyDelete