Speed Traps Planned After Pandemic Brings 'Super Speeders'

MARYLAND — The Maryland State Police opened new speed enforcement zones on Monday. The speed traps will be in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, focusing on Interstate 495 and Interstate 270.

Troopers did not mention specific stretches of highway that they are concentrating on. Police only said that they chose areas with a history of crashes.

Prince George's County saw more than 17,100 collisions in 2020. Montgomery County reported 9,700 accidents last year. Officers noted that this may have been influenced by the coronavirus pandemic.

"With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic volume decreased significantly in 2020," state police said in a press release. "However, the speed of the vehicles increased dramatically, leading to concerns of 'super speeders' in the region."

Troopers combated the issue last May with a heavy presence on the Capital Beltway. Officers wrote nearly 400 tickets during that mission. Police informed that they caught at least one driver zooming at 110 mph.

The Rockville Barrack led another push in Montgomery County last fall. Troopers targeted aggressive driving, street racing and noisy cars with modified exhaust systems. That led to about:

• 300 traffic stops
• 215 tickets
• 170 warnings
• 55 repair orders
• 15 arrests

The latest effort is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office. This is the first of six initiatives to reduce excessive speeding, aggressive driving and drunk driving. The other five waves will take place once a month from April to August.

These agencies will be involved in the operation:

• Maryland State Police Washington Metro Troop (College Park, Forestville and Rockville barracks)
• Montgomery County Police Department
• Prince George’s County Police Department
• Virginia State Police

RELATED:

• Pandemic Revs Up Bad Driver Behavior In Maryland

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