Downtown Crackdown: Bel Air Police Hone In On Traffic Safety

BEL AIR, MD — More officers will be posted in downtown Bel Air this week. Officials said police will be increasing traffic enforcement from Tuesday, Sept. 1, to Monday, Sept. 7, thanks to help from the Maryland Highway Safety Office.

"Labor Day and start of school is a great time reinforce the importance of pedestrian and traffic safety," Patti Parker, spokeswoman for the town of Bel Air, said.

The additional officers deployed downtown will educate drivers about rules of the road, including seatbelt use, distracted driving, speeding, pedestrian safety and unsafe lane changing.

Officials said the goal was to identify impaired drivers and increase pedestrian safety.

Ramping up patrols comes about two months after a pedestrian was killed on Main Street near the courthouse.

A 24-year-old was hit on South Main Street shortly after midnight on July 1 and dragged by a truck, according to police, who said he later died at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center.

"Although unrelated to the death on Main Street, the reality is that we all need to reminded to be cautious," Parker told Patch. "The death is a reminder that pedestrian and driver awareness is paramount to a safe community."

The driver in that case was indicted Aug. 11 on 14 charges, including driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to remain at the scene of an accident and failing to render aid, among others. He is slated to appear in Harford County Circuit Court Sept. 14 for a scheduling conference.

Pedestrian safety has been a priority for the town of Bel Air, which formed a traffic safety task force in 2019 to focus on the 4 "E"s, according to Parker: Education, Enforcement, Engineering and EMS. Made up of community members, town officials, state authorities and law enforcement, the group studies ways to improve safety and decrease crashes, Parker said.

People who live and travel in Bel Air can do their part to make the town safer for drivers and pedestrians, according to Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore.

“Citizens can help by dedicating time to thinking about safe driving or walking habits on your next trip," Moore said. "That brief safety reminder could save you from a costly citation and more importantly could save lives."

The Bel Air Police Department is not the only agency ramping up patrols around Labor Day weekend. Troopers from every Maryland State Police barrack will be assigned to traffic safety over the holiday, officials said.

See Also:

• Man Killed In Main Street Hit And Run: Bel Air Police
• Driver To Be Released From Jail After Deadly Bel Air Hit-And-Run
• Bel Air Man Cited In Deadly Hit-And-Run On Main Street
• Extra Troopers Will Be Patrolling MD Roads For Labor Day Weekend