Maryland State Police Increase Patrols to Ensure Safe Holiday Travel

PIKESVILLE, Md. – As the holiday season approaches, Maryland State Police are ramping up efforts to ensure safe travel on the state’s highways. Starting this Friday, state troopers from all 23 barracks will be increasing patrols, targeting impaired, aggressive, and distracted driving. These increased patrols are made possible through funding from the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office.

One of the key initiatives is the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) team, a specialized unit of trained troopers dedicated to identifying impaired drivers. SPIDRE, funded by a grant from MDOT MVA Highway Safety Office, aims to reduce alcohol-related injuries and fatalities in Maryland. The team will be actively working throughout the holiday weekend.

In addition to increased enforcement, the Maryland State Police are collaborating with allied law enforcement agencies and other state organizations to not only enforce the law but also engage with the community through social media and electronic billboards.

Here are some of the planned initiatives by the Maryland State Police:

County-Specific Initiatives

• Allegany County

  The Cumberland Barrack, in coordination with the Western Troop, will be conducting high visibility enforcement on major roadways, including I-68.

  

• Anne Arundel County

  The Annapolis Barrack will focus on enforcing DUI laws on Route 50 and I-97, while the Glen Burnie Barrack will conduct safety patrols and high visibility enforcement throughout the holiday weekend.

• Baltimore County

  The Golden Ring Barrack will be actively conducting high visibility enforcement throughout the holiday weekend, including along I-695.

• Calvert County

  The Prince Frederick Barrack will conduct aggressive driving and DUI saturation patrol initiatives in related hotspot areas.

• Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot counties

  The Easton Barrack will be patrolling main holiday routes, including Routes 50 and 404.

• Carroll County

  The Westminster Barrack will be conducting DUI enforcement initiatives along with high visibility patrols around shopping centers in partnership with allied law enforcement agencies. The goal is to reduce criminal activity in both Eldersburg and Westminster.

• Cecil County

  The North East Barrack will be directing criminal and traffic enforcements on the identified hotspots where most crimes, crashes, and DUIs have occurred in Cecil County.

• Charles County

  The La Plata Barrack will be assisting the Charles County Sheriff’s Office with a sobriety checkpoint on a county road. Additionally, troopers will focus patrols on US Route 301 and MD Route 5 in Waldorf.

• Harford County

  The Bel Air Barrack will be directing enforcement action on arterial roads that have been identified as hotspots for DUIs and crashes. The JFK Memorial Highway Barrack will focus on crash reduction and DUI enforcement efforts on I-95 through Harford and Cecil counties.

• Garrett County

  The McHenry Barrack, along with the Western Troop, will conduct high visibility enforcement on major roadways, including I-68 and Route 219. Their focus will be on high DUI areas over the holiday weekend.

• Frederick County

  The Frederick Barrack will be directing enforcement efforts using routine patrol, DUI saturation patrol, and selective enforcement at locations identified as having high rates of crashes and/or crime in the county, including on I-70.

• Howard County

  The Waterloo Barrack will be working on combined enforcement initiatives with the Howard County Police Department in designated hotspot areas for DUI enforcement.

• Kent and Queen Anne’s counties

  The Centreville Barrack will conduct aggressive enforcement operations for DUI and traffic violations on US Route 301, Route 20, and US Route 50.

• Prince George’s County

  The Forestville Barrack will be working on enforcement initiatives with the Prince George’s County Police Department, focusing on high crime areas in southern Prince George’s County. Troopers will also focus on known hotspots for DUI enforcement. The College Park Barrack will target their enforcement efforts on impaired and distracted drivers along Route 1 and I-95.

• Somerset County

  The Princess Anne Barrack will primarily focus its DUI enforcement efforts on US Route 13 and Maryland Route 413.

• St. Mary’s County

  The Leonardtown Barrack will conduct enforcement efforts related to speeding, aggressive driving, and other moving violations.

• Washington County

  The Hagerstown Barrack will conduct safety patrols and high visibility enforcement, focusing on impaired and distracted driving on major roads, including I-81 and I-70.

• Wicomico County

  Troopers from the Salisbury Barrack will focus on criminal and traffic enforcement on main arteries and hotspots where most crashes and DUIs have occurred within Wicomico County.

• Worcester County

  The Berlin Barrack will conduct DUI saturation patrols throughout the weekend.

Motorists are urged to plan for a safe drive by avoiding impaired, aggressive, and distracted driving. It is essential to adhere to Maryland’s Move Over laws, which require motorists to safely make a lane change or slow down when approaching a vehicle displaying warning signals.

The Maryland State Police wishes everyone a safe and Merry Christmas.

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