Cinco De Mayo DUI Tests Offered By Annapolis Police

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Annapolis Police will offer breathalyzer tests to visitors downtown on Saturday, May 5, to help them gauge if they're sober enough to drive. The department's Know Your Limit event will run from 7 to 11 p.m. at Market Space. Officers will be on foot near the Market House offering free breathalyzer tests.

Volunteers will be asked if they feel safe to drive a car, and then blow into a portable breathalyzer. Participants will be told what their blood alcohol content is and given an educational card with information on alcohol consumption and options to get home safely.

The police department is teaming up with the Annapolis Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition to educate people about binge drinking. According to the 2016 Maryland Young Adult Survey on Alcohol, half of 18- to 25-year-olds who drink are binge drinking and don’t realize it.

The penalties for a DUI or DWI in Maryland consist of potential jail time, fines, and a minimum of a six-month license suspension.

Reminders for Drivers

Authorities remind drivers not to use their cell phones while driving. If you must make a call or text, pull onto the shoulder or exit the road, stop your vehicle and then use your phone.

Additionally, the State of Maryland has a "Move It Over Law," which means drivers approaching an emergency vehicle or tow truck from the rear must:

• If practicable, move into an available lane away from the emergency vehicle or tow truck with due regard for safety and traffic conditions; or
• If the driver is unable to safely change lanes, then they must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing weather, road, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.

Image via Shutterstock