Consider Yourself Warned: Extra Patrols Targeting Drunk Drivers

Extra Maryland State Police officers are on the roads starting today to look for drunk drivers as three days of St. Patrick’s Day partying begins for some people.

“Unfortunately, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations increase the number of drunk drivers on our roads and the risk of highway tragedies resulting from drunken driving crashes,” said Col. Marcus L. Brown, State Police Superintendent. “We want everyone to enjoy the celebrations, but act responsibly. Be certain you make plans ahead of time to arrange for a sober driver to transport you, whether that is a friend, cab driver, or transit driver. Stick to those plans. If you do not, a very sober state trooper or local police officer will quite possibly be driving you from the scene of your arrest.” 

During previous St. Patrick’s Day weekends, DUI arrests by state troopers have doubled what they are on a normal day. Troopers and local law enforcement officers will be working together throughout the state to strictly enforce Maryland’s drunk driving laws, state police said in a release.

State Police will have special patrols of troopers working in areas known to have high numbers of DUI arrests or crashes. Troopers will also be staffing four sobriety checkpoints, including one in Bel Air. 

A team of the best drunk driving enforcement troopers in the State Police will also be focusing their patrols on areas known to have a potential for a high number of drunk drivers. 

In Maryland, a first offense for driving under the influence could result in a fine of up to $1,000 and a sentence of up to one year in jail. In addition, the violation would mean 12 points on the offender’s driver’s license and a license revocation for six months. Driver’s licenses are confiscated by police from those refusing to take a blood alcohol test and from those whose test result is .08 or higher.