Maryland State Police Increase Patrols For Cinco de Mayo Weekend

MARYLAND — Troopers will fan out across the state this weekend on the lookout for impaired, aggressive and distracted drivers, according to Maryland State Police. The saturation patrols coincide with the weekend culminating in Cinco de Mayo, which is Sunday, May 5.

Anticipating an increase in impaired drivers, law enforcement officers say they will be out in force from Thursday, May 2, to Sunday, May 5.

DUI saturation patrols will be set up in areas that are known for impaired driving crashes and arrests. Sobriety checkpoints will also be established in locations that police deem appropriate.

More than 160 people are killed each year in Maryland and thousands are injured in crashes involving impaired drivers, officials said.

"Please don’t drink and drive this weekend," Maryland State Police said in a statement.

Two checkpoints have already been announced:

• Montgomery County Police, Gaithersburg Police, and Maryland State Police will open a checkpoint around 10 p.m. on Friday, May 3, weather permitting. They did not disclose where.
• The Frederick barrack and Frederick City Police Department will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint on Friday, May 3, on MD 26/Liberty Road.

By law, officials have to announce the sobriety checkpoint. A Supreme Court ruling in 1990 said that to ensure citizens' rights to security against unlawful search and seizure were not violated, a checkpoint must be publicized in advance.

For this weekend, police said enforcement will be bolstered by saturation patrol funds from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office to curb impaired driving.

Tips For Cinco de Mayo Partygoers

• Designate a sober driver before going, and give that person your car keys.
• Get the Safer Ride app, which is sponsored by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and pulls up taxi services in the area. Use a taxi, ride-share service or public transportation if you don't have a sober driver.
• Wear your seat belt.

Tips For Cinco de Mayo Hosts

• Watch your guests and ensure they have a sober ride home in advance if they are planning to drink; you can be held liable if someone you served alcohol is in an impaired-driving crash.
• Take keys from anyone thinking of driving impaired.
• Serve food and non-alcoholic beverages.
• Keep information on local taxi companies on hand.

During the Cinco de Mayo festivities last year — Friday, May 4, to Sunday, May 6, 2018 — Maryland State Police reported that troopers made 119 DUI arrests, 35 criminal arrests and 20 controlled dangerous substance arrests in addition to issuing 861 speeding tickets, 88 seat belt citations and 2,257 citations for other violations.