STATE POLICE HOLIDAY ENFORCEMENT RESULTS

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – Maryland state troopers issued more than 10,000 traffic citations and warnings as part of a variety of increased enforcement efforts that ranged from DUI patrols to cargo theft prevention during the Thanksgiving holiday period.

Maryland State Police increased patrols throughout the holiday period and focused enforcement efforts on drunk driving, aggressive driving and speeding. Troopers issued 5,231 citations and 5,009 warnings for traffic violations from Wednesday, November 23rd through Sunday, November 27th. Troopers also made 156 criminal arrests during that period.

Troopers worked special drunk driving saturation patrols throughout Maryland and arrested 113 suspected drunk drivers. Cooperative patrols with other law enforcement agencies were conducted in several parts of the state, including Prince George’s, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Kent, and Queen Anne’s counties. Troopers at the Golden Ring Barrack in Baltimore County, led the state in DUI arrests with 13, followed by troopers at the Prince Frederick Barrack in Calvert County and the Leonardtown Barrack in St. Mary’s County with 12 and 11 DUI arrests, respectively.

Troopers responded to 284 traffic crashes statewide. Maryland State Police investigated five fatal crashes in which six people were killed. Two of those crashes occurred in Frederick County and the others occurred in Washington, Harford, and Queen Anne’s counties.

The Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) was busy in the days leading up to the holiday. CVED troopers conducted “Operation Night Owl,” which was extra enforcement aimed at preventing cargo theft and reducing the number of unsafe commercial vehicle operating during the period of increased travel.

From November 18th through November 23rd, CVED troopers conducted 1,260 commercial vehicle inspections. Troopers placed 133 commercial vehicles out of service for serious equipment violations and placed 137 commercial drivers out of service for being unqualified, exceeding drive hours, or other safety regulation violations.

Working in weigh stations and using portable scales, troopers found 205 of the trucks they checked to be overweight. In total during this period, CVED troopers issued 746 citations and 644 warnings.

Maryland State Police traffic safety efforts will be continuing through the New Year holiday. Initiatives will be worked in cooperation with local law enforcement, the Maryland Highway Safety Office, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.