County, State Police Partner on DUI Enforcement, Focus on Route 3

Maryland State Police and the Anne Arundel County Police Department recently began working together to prevent drunk driving in the area, and have made a dozen DUI arrests in the county so far. 

The State Police Impaired Driving Effort (SPIDRE) program is designed to catch more drunk drivers and reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents. Statewide, the program has resulted in 1,650 traffic stops and 2,300 citations. 

In Anne Arundel County, state and county police have combined for 100 traffic stops and a dozen DUI arrests since they began working together this month.

Distracted Driving Also A Concern 

Police said there have been 27 traffic fatalities in the county this year. Five of those have been on Route 3.

Police said not all of those crashes involved alcohol, but may have been the result of distracted driving and the use of mobile devices behind the wheel. Police charged a woman last month with negligent homicide, claiming she was on her phone just before a collision that killed a Virginia man.  

Davis said he recently pulled  over a driver who was using his iPad while driving. 

"He told me his iPad fell out of his visor and landed in his lap and started spontaneously typing," Davis said. "I'd expect that excuse from one of my 11-year-olds, not a grown man."

See also:

• Route 3 Development, Traffic Trouble Local Police