Police Patrols Increase In Maryland Ahead Of Super Bowl 2018

MARYLAND — Police across Maryland will be out in force this weekend as fans celebrate the Super Bowl. Officials say they have several areas in mind and will be looking for impaired drivers.

Expect police to saturate the US 40 corridor, where patrols will be fanned out statewide, Maryland State Police advised. Troopers from the Bel Air, Cumberland, Frederick, Golden Ring, Hagerstown and Waterloo barracks will be partnering up with additional agencies to take those suspected of driving impaired off the road.

"...drive sober or get pulled over," Maryland State Police warned.

There will be a sobriety checkpoint on Friday night on the Hatem Bridge, which is the span of US 40 between Harford and Cecil counties over the Susquehanna River. The legal blood alcohol concentration is .08 percent.

The Maryland Department of Transportation reports that there are 7,884 crashes involving impaired driving each year in the state. Its highway safety office has contributed funds that will support the Route 40 corridor initiative.

In addition to the saturation patrols, the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort Team (SPIDRE) will be out "in full force this weekend," police advised.

SPIDRE has made more than 2,500 DUI arrests since it began less than five years ago in May 2013.

The team targets areas in Maryland that have high crash rates involving impaired drivers, according to officials.

"Make sure using a designated driver is the number one play in your playbook and have a sober driver chosen before going out for the night," police said before the Super Bowl.

Drinkers are encouraged to download the Safer Ride app, which is sponsored by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and pulls up taxi services in the area.

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Photo courtesy of Maryland State Police.