Maryland State Police Warn Holiday Crackdown on Drunk Driving

With all the holiday parties and celebrations this time of year, many will drink and drive but you better watch out, I’m telling you why; the Maryland State Police are cracking down on drunk driving.

Maryland State Police Operation Checkpoint Strikeforce
Photo | Maryland State Police

Due to the increased possibility of alcohol related crashes and fatalities, troopers will be out in force actively searching for impaired, distracted, and aggressive drivers. Drivers are reminded during the holiday season and the rest of the year that drinking alcohol and driving should never be on their to- do list. In 2013, during the Christmas period from December 25 through December 29, there were 5 fatalities and 2 were alcohol related.

Nationally the facts are grim. In December 2012 there were 830 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher; 26 of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day. On average, a third (31%) of all crash fatalities in America involves drunk driving. But on Christmas day 2012, the percentage jumped to 36 percent.

“It’s time for all drivers to get the message that drunk driving is not a victimless crime,” said Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent, Maryland State Police. “You could kill yourself or someone else. There will be zero tolerance for impaired drivers on the road. We will see you, we will stop you, and you will be arrested.”

Impaired drivers often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses ranging from attorney fees, court costs, car towing and repairs, to lost wages due to time off from work. Even worse, a drunk driver can cause a traffic crash that claims someone’s life, or their own.

Please follow these tips to keep the holidays safe and happy:

• Even one drink can impair your judgment and increase the risk of getting arrested for driving drunk—or worse, the risk of having a crash while driving.
• If you will be drinking, do not plan on driving. Plan ahead; designate a sober driver before the party begins.
• If you have been drinking, do not drive. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life, and inaction could cost a life.

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