HdG Man Arrested Twice For DUI In Two Weeks: Police

NORTH EAST, MD — Maryland State Police announced that troopers statewide have made more arrests this year of drivers suspected of being under the influence than last year at this time. As officers from the North East barrack ramped up their patrols for the holidays, police said that a Havre de Grace man accounted for two of the DUI arrests in as many weeks.

The barrack in Cecil County took an "aggressive stance" toward impaired driving in November, according to Maryland State Police; the North East barrack officers conducted more than 1,000 traffic stops in an attempt to prevent drug and alcohol-related accidents that month.

Its troopers also made 22 DUI arrests in November, and police said the same Havre de Grace man accounted for two of them.

Michael Clark Old, 45, of Robinhood Road, was charged with driving while impaired twice in November:

• Old was arrested Nov. 4 on MD 276 before MD 273.
• Old was arrested Nov. 18 on MD 213 at Frenchtown Road.

He was cited in the second case for failing to drive on the right side of the road, reckless driving, driving while so far impaired by alcohol that he could not drive safely and other traffic offenses while behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Jetta, according to court records.

In the Nov. 4 case, he was cited for driving a Honda motorcycle and following too closely, leaving the scene of a crash with damage and trying to run away and hitchhike, court records state.

Being arrested for driving while impaired can lead to jail time, classes, license suspension and expenses exceeding $10,000, police said.

As drivers approach holiday gatherings in the next two weeks, police advise lining up a designated driver or alternate ride home if plans include drinking alcohol.

Here are some numbers for local cabs:

• Victory Cab in Aberdeen: 410-838-5700
• ABC Taxi in Aberdeen: 410-272-0272
• Montville Taxi in Havre de Grace: 410-939-0900
• We Got Cha Taxi in Aberdeen: 410-937-7917

People can also get the Safer Ride app, sponsored by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, which pulls up taxi services in the area.

Approximately one in three traffic deaths in the U.S. involves a drunk driver, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Troopers across the state will be working overtime leading up to Christmas and New Year's Day through grant funding from the Maryland Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office, focused on impaired driving, aggressive driving, speeding and distracted driving, among other potential violations, police said.

Here are the DUI and distracted driving totals Maryland State Police released through Nov. 30:

• 2018 — 6,689 DUI arrests
• 2017 — 6,508 DUI arrests
• 2018 — 15,194 distracted driving citations
• 2017 — 16,934 distracted riving citations

Where To Get Help

Those seeking treatment for substance abuse have several options in Harford County.

Harford County residents can call the 24/7 crisis center hotline at 800-NEXT-STEP (800-639-8783) to get connected with addiction services and mental/behavioral health professionals.

Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are available for those suffering from addiction and alcoholism.

Harford County-based Addiction Connections Resource — at 443-417-7810 — helps link callers to resources from therapists to halfway houses to treatment centers.

For those in crisis, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-SUICIDE (or 1-800-784-2433). Its website offers services including a live chat.

People can also use the treatment locator on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or call the Maryland Crisis Hotline, which provides 24/7 support, at 1-800-422-0009. Marylanders grappling with a substance use disorder can find help as well at BeforeItsTooLateMD.org.

SEE ALSO:

• First 24/7 Crisis Hotline Established in Harford County
• Harford Crisis Center Previews Services, Partnership

File photo via Renee Schiavone.