The area of Crain Highway south of the Charles County Sheriff's Office La Plata district station to the Gov. Harry Nice Memorial Bridge has been designated an aggressive enforcement area, the Charles County Sheriff's Office announced.
Officers will conduct random radar assignments aimed at slowing down motorists who do not obey the posted speed limit. That stretch of the highway was chosen because of the number of fatal crashes that have occurred in the area.
"The speed limit on that part of Crain Highway is 55 miles per hour, but too many cars travel much faster than that," said Lt. Tim Crawford, commander of the La Plata district. "We have got to put a stop to this dangerous behavior so we are making this a no-tolerance zone. Drivers stopped for speeding will be issued a citation."
Fatal crashes in Charles County have occurred at an alarming rate this year. So far, 26 people have died in 22 crashes, and six of those crashes were in the aggressive enforcement area.
"People who speed are a risk to themselves and a risk to other drivers," said Lt. Crawford. "We are not going to neglect other areas of our district, but we will be targeting this area at all times of the day and night to slow down these dangerous motorists."
Signs will be placed on the side of the road in front of the La Plata district station - next to the sign that displays the number of people who have died in crashes in Charles County - and next to the "Welcome to Charles County" sign motorists pass entering Maryland from the Nice Bridge.
Anyone who sees someone who is speeding may contact the Sheriff's Office at 301-932-2222.