DUI Checkpoint In Howard County Planned For Thanksgiving Weekend

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Howard County Police Department will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

So far this year, Howard County officials say that police have arrested more than 740 people for driving under the influence. The Thanksgiving weekend sobriety checkpoint is designed to curb drunk driving and raise awareness about the dangers of driving while under the influence.

Police said this week that 30 percent of fatal crashes in Howard County year to date were related to alcohol.

The location of the Thanksgiving weekend checkpoint was not disclosed. It will be marked with lights, signs and officers in uniform.

In addition to county police, state troopers from the Waterloo barrack have planned DUI saturation patrols.

By law, authorities must announce sobriety checkpoints. A Supreme Court case in 1990 determined citizens' rights against unlawful search and seizure are not violated if checkpoints are publicized in advance.

According to police, it can cost more than $10,000 for a DUI, which may result in fines, DUI classes, fees and license suspensions.

The legal blood alcohol concentration is .08 percent in Maryland.

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

Howard County police noted that officers will not just be on the lookout for drunk drivers; they will also be watching for distracted drivers, speeders, those who are not wearing seat belts as well as other traffic violations.

Throughout the holiday season, Howard County police said that officers will be conducting DUI patrols.

Patch file photo by Elizabeth Janney.