St. Patrick's Day DUI Patrols Planned By Maryland State Police

Maryland State Police are among law enforcement agencies planning to be on the lookout for drunk and/or drugged drivers this St. Patrick's Day weekend across the state. As St. Patrick’s Day approaches on Saturday, March 17, Maryland State Police expect more drunk drivers on the state's road this weekend.

The agency will conduct saturation patrols at each of the 23 barracks focusing on impaired, aggressive and distracted driving. Extra patrols are planned in areas that have had a higher number of DUI crashes or arrests in the past, plus sobriety checkpoints. Last St. Patrick’s Day weekend, state police made 88 DUI arrests, 37 criminal arrests and 12 CDS arrests. Troopers also issued 888 speeding citations, 100 seat belt citations and 2,365 other citations.

The State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort Team, otherwise known as the SPIDRE team, will also be out in full force this weekend. From March 8 to 11 alone, the SPIDRE team made 17 DUI arrests. The goal of the SPIDRE team is to reduce alcohol-related crashes in Maryland by targeting areas with high crash rates involving impaired drivers.

Every year more than 160 lives are lost in Maryland in crashes involving impaired drivers and thousands more are injured, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation.

Residents in Montgomery and Prince George's County can use the popular and free safe ride service SoberRide from 4 p.m. Saturday, March 17 to 4 a.m. Sunday, March 18. This is a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers during a traditionally high-risk period, the organization says.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over a third (39 percent) of all U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers on St. Patrick's Day.

Area residents age 21 or older celebrating with alcohol can download Lyft to their phones, then enter a promo code in the app's 'Promo' section to receive their no cost (up to $15 fare) safe transportation home. WRAP's promo code will be posted at 2 p.m. March 17. While SoberRide provides a free ride home up to a $15 fare, callers must pay for any fare over $15.

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

• Designate a sober driver in advance and give that person your car keys.
• If you’re planning on driving, avoid drinking.
• Consider using public transportation, call a taxi or use a ride-share service if you don’t have a sober driver.
• Don’t let a friend drive if you think they are impaired.
• If you see someone who you believe is driving impaired, call police.
• Always buckle up.
• Don’t text, use a cellphone that is not hands-free or drive distracted.

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

• Remember, you can be held liable if someone you served alcohol to ends up in an impaired-driving crash.
• Serve plenty of food an non-alcoholic beverages
• Ensure sober drivers or alternative modes of transportation are set up in advance for guest who are planning to drink alcoholic beverages.
• Have contact information for local taxi companies readily available.
• Take away the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving impaired.

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