Maryland State Police Crackdown On Drunk Drivers St. Patrick's Day Weekend

BETHESDA, MD — St. Patrick's Day is quickly approaching, and Maryland State Police are reminding residents that "no four leaf clover is going to protect you" when it comes to drunk driving.

“If alcohol is part of your celebration, then driving should not be,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel William M. Pallozzi said in a statement. “We will accept no excuses and will have zero tolerance for anyone who elects to jeopardize his or her own safety, as well as the safety of others, by choosing to drive while impaired.”

Since Maryland state troopers are anticipating an increase in drunk drivers this weekend, Pallozzi has decided to assign additional troopers to patrol the state.

Troopers at each of the 23 barracks in Maryland will be involved in multiple initiatives from March 16-18, including saturation patrols in areas known to have a higher number of DUI crashes or arrests and sobriety checkpoints.

A full-time DUI enforcement squad, The State Police Impaired Driving Effort, will also be out in full-force.

From March 16-21, 2016, troopers arrested 153 drunk drivers. Maryland residents driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 is evidence of intoxication and is against the law, and a driver under the age of 21, with any measurable alcohol in their system, is in violation of alcohol laws in Maryland.

Residents in the Greater Washing area can get a SoberRide beginning on Saint Patrick's Day at 4 p.m. Friday, March 17. Free rides will continue until 4 a.m. Saturday, March 18, provided by the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) and Lyft.

>> See Related: Lyft Replaces Free Cab Rides For St. Patrick’s Day In Montgomery County

Lyft will provide SoberRide trips to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Greater Washington area to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during a traditionally high-risk period. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one-in-four U.S. traffic deaths during the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day holiday involved drunk drivers.

Area residents age 21 or older celebrating with alcohol can download Lyft to their phones, then enter the code SOBERRIDE in the app's 'Promo' section to receive their no cost (up to $20 fare) safe transportation home. The SoberRide code is valid for both new and existing Lyft users.

While SoberRide provides a free cab ride home up to a $20 fare, callers must pay for any fare over $20.

SoberRide is offered throughout Lyft’s Washington, D.C. coverage area which includes all or parts of: the District of Columbia; the Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince George’s; and the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William.

Maryland State Police want to remind all residents of the following:

If you are attending a St. Patrick’s Day gathering:

• Designate a sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys.
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast by pacing yourself – eat enough food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
• If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you; or just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.
• Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while impaired.
• Always buckle up – it’s still your best protection against other impaired drivers.

If you are hosting a St. Patrick’s Day gathering:

• Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in an impaired-driving crash.
• Be sure all of your guests designate their drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with sober drivers.
• Serve lots of food and be sure to include plenty of non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
• Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.

Photo: Maryland State Police