Impaired Drivers To Be Targeted Halloween Weekend By Maryland State Police

PIKESVILLE, MD — Maryland State Police are gearing up for the Halloween weekend with extra troopers on the roads to staff DUI checkpoints and watch for distracted drivers.

From Thursday to Sunday, troopers from all 23 Maryland State Police barracks will focus enforcement efforts on impaired driving, aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving and other violations that contribute to crashes, according to a news release.

Along with DUI saturation patrols and checkpoints focused on high crash and impaired driving areas throughout the state, many barracks will also have community-specific efforts. This includes:

• The Waterloo Barrack will hold a DUI checkpoint and saturation patrol. Troopers from the Westminster and Golden Ring Barrack (Central Troop) will assist. There is also a joint initiative planned with the Howard County Police Department.
• The Frederick Barrack will conduct a joint initiative on Sunday, Oct. 31, with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office focused on aggressive driving and related offenses to promote pedestrian safety.
• The Cumberland Barrack will target impaired driving crashes and high crash areas along Interstate 68.
• The Salisbury Barrack will hold trick or treating events during its late and evening shifts to promote safety. During the day, troopers will watch for aggressive drivers and promote pedestrian safety.
• The North East Barrack will staff crash reduction and DUI enforcement efforts on US 40, MD 272 and MD 273. These are the areas that data shows have the most crashes and DUI arrests in their patrol area in Cecil County.
• The Annapolis Barrack will staff DUI saturation patrols on US 50 and I-97 with a focus on hot spot areas for impaired driving.
• The Hagerstown Barrack will man visibility patrols during trick or treating events. Troopers will also be focusing on impaired drivers, distracted drivers and seat belt violators along Routes 11 and 40 and I-70.
• The Glen Burnie Barrack will be patrolling high DUI and crash enforcement roads in Anne Arundel County. Troopers will also be patrolling secondary roads where trick or treaters will be gathering.
• The College Park Barrack will focus its DUI saturation patrols on US 50 and I-495 looking for impaired drivers in high crash areas in Prince George’s County.
• The Leonardtown Barrack will step up enforcement efforts to promote pedestrian safety. Troopers will also participate in community trick or treating events to promote safety habits in St. Mary’s County.
• The Princess Anne Barrack will patrol communities during peak trick or treating times to watch for speeding and distracted driving.

The State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort Team, otherwise known as the SPIDRE team, will also be out this weekend, focused on reducing alcohol-related crashes.

Officials said Marylanders should make plans for a sober driver to take them home before they begin drinking.

The estimated cost to someone arrested for impaired driving is $10,000 for legal fees, fines, lost wages and other expenses. That cost is just for a simple arrest. If a crash is involved, the cost goes up exponentially.

Here are some tips for drivers and pedestrians to help reduce the chances of fatalities on Maryland roads:

Safety Tips for Drivers

• Look for pedestrians walking along the roadway and at crossings and intersections.
• Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks as required by Maryland law.
• Be careful passing stopped vehicles. If a car is stopped at a marked crosswalk, stop and look for crossing pedestrians as required by Maryland law.
• Slow down and obey the posted speed limit.
• Yield to pedestrians when turning.
• Use extra caution at night when it may be harder to see pedestrians crossing the road.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians

• Walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, always walk on the side of the road facing traffic.
• Cross the street at marked crosswalks and at intersections. Many pedestrian crashes occur at mid-block locations where drivers do not expect pedestrians.
• Obey traffic signals, including pedestrian signals.
• Before crossing, look left, right and left again to make sure you can cross safely.
• Look before stepping past stopped vehicles. They may be blocking your view of moving traffic.
• Stay visible after dark and in bad weather. Help drivers see you by wearing retro-reflective material in low lighting conditions. This includes those wearing costumes while trick-or-treating.
• Use caution around any vehicle backing out of parking spaces and driveways.