Annapolis Police to Target 4th of July Weekend Drinkers, Drivers

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Annapolis Police officers will offer breathalyzer tests on Saturday night and hand out information on drunk driving and alternative ways to get home safely, the department says.

The Annapolis Police Department is bringing back its educational program called Know Your Limit to combat drunk driving on Saturday, July 2. The first event was held May 5, Cinco de Mayo.

Look for officers out from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. near the Market House on Saturday night.

The police department will also have extra officers working impaired driving enforcement over the Fourth of July weekend to catch drivers who get behind the wheel after drinking too much.

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Maryland law sets the legal blood alcohol content for a driver below .08 percent, but even under a .08 drivers can show signs of impairment. Police say drivers might not realize how little alcohol it takes to reach a BAC of .08 percent.

Officers on foot will ask passersby to participate in the program. Volunteers will be asked if they feel safe to drive a car, then they will blow into a portable breathalyzer. Participants will be told what their BAC is and given information on alcohol consumption and options to get home safely.

The Know Your Limit program is not intended as a scare tactic, the department said. Instead, it’s intended to encourage groups to designate a sober driver and make good choices.

During the first event in May, officers gave breath tests to 89 people over a six-hour period. The highest BAC recorded was a 0.27 percent.

The department says officers “received a tremendous amount of positive responses to the program from both those tested and people walking by and asking about the program” on Cinco de Mayo.