PIKESVILLE, Md. (March 18, 2011) – Maryland state troopers issued thousands of citations and warnings, arrested more drunk drivers than on the same day last year, and made numerous felony and warrant arrests yesterday during an intense traffic enforcement campaign across the state.
Troopers at each of the 22 Maryland State Police barracks were assigned to special drunk driving saturation patrols to supplement the regular patrol troopers who were also on the alert for increased numbers of drunk drivers. Statewide, troopers arrested 69 drunk drivers, compared with 42 arrested on St. Patrick’s Day 2010. The most DUI arrests were made by troopers at the JFK Highway Barracks, who patrol I-95 from the Baltimore City line north to Delaware. Troopers there arrested nine drunk drivers.
Troopers also issued approximately 1,800 traffic citations and 1,900 warnings for a variety of traffic violations. Troopers made 13 drug arrests, 13 arrests for other criminal offenses, and arrested 26 people wanted on warrants.
Troopers at the Golden Ring Barrack conducted a focused enforcement campaign on I-83 from Baltimore City to the Pennsylvania state line in response to several recent serious crashes and numerous complaints of aggressive driving. Troopers on I-83 issued 120 traffic citations, 192 warnings, and made four warrant arrests. Troopers from the Golden Ring Barrack made a total of six drunk driving arrests yesterday, as did troopers at the Bel Air Barrack and Hagerstown Barrack.
Troopers in the Washington Metro Troop conducted another Operation Centipede patrol around the Capital Beltway. Troopers there issued 185 traffic citations and 113 warnings. They made eight drunk driving arrests, three felony drug arrests and three warrant arrests.
There were no fatal traffic crashes investigated by members of the Maryland State Police yesterday. Overtime funding for additional patrols was provided by grants from the Maryland Highway Safety Office. Additional enforcement efforts will continue throughout the weekend.
Source: MSP HQ