LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
The sobriety checkpoints planned for Southern Maryland will funnel limited state and federal grant money away from measures that have proven to be most effective in combating drunk driving (“Local Police Plan Sobriety Checkpoints for Coming Weekend,” March 11).
Because they are highly visible by design and publicized in advance, roadblocks are all too easily avoided by the chronic alcohol abusers that comprise the core of today's drunk driving problem.
Conversely, the number of DUI arrests made by roving patrol programs is nearly 10 times the average number of DUIs made by checkpoint programs, according to testimony by a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation official.
By focusing scarce law enforcement resources on roadblocks, Maryland Police will strip Maryland’s roadways of their most valuable tool for catching drunk drivers.
Southern Maryland residents and taxpayers would benefit from employing the most effective tactics to catch drunk drivers: roving police patrols.
Sarah Longwell
Managing Director
American Beverage Institute
1090 Vermont Avenue NW, #800
Washington, DC 20005
www.abionline.org