Maryland State Police saturated roads with patrols from the Eastern Shore to Western Maryland in an effort to reduce speeding and crashes this past weekend.
Overall, troopers, who represented 10 barracks, conducted a combined 541 traffic stops, issued 401 citations, 309 warnings, 25 safety equipment repair orders and made seven arrests between May 15 and 17.
Here is a breakdown of the individual barrack initiatives:
- College Park – On May 15, troopers conducted 28 traffic stops and issued 19 citations and 15 warnings in Prince George’s County.
- Glen Burnie – On May 15, troopers patrolling I-695 and northern I-97 conducted 39 traffic stops, issued 51 citations, 30 warnings and 2 safety equipment repair orders and made 1 DUI arrest.
- Westminster – On May 15, troopers patrolling Baltimore Boulevard in Carroll County conducted 70 traffic stops and issued 28 citations, 51 warnings and 4 safety equipment repair orders.
- Berlin – On May 15, troopers conducted 62 traffic stops, issued 49 citations and 29 warnings and made 1 DUI arrest in Ocean City and Worcester County. On May 16, troopers conducted 99 traffic stops, issued 46 citations, 49 warnings and 16 safety equipment repair order and made one DUI arrest in Ocean City and Worcester County.
- Prince Frederick – On May 16, troopers conducted 46 traffic stops, issued 32 citations and 26 warnings and made one drug warrant arrest in Calvert County. On May 17, troopers conducted 43 traffic stops and issued 44 citations, 29 warnings and 1 safety equipment repair order in Calvert County.
- Princess Anne – On May 16, troopers conducted 50 traffic stops, issued 31 citations and 57 warnings and made 1 felony warrant arrest in Somerset County.
- Hagerstown – On May 17, troopers patrolling I-70 between the Frederick County and Washington County lines and I-81 conducted 29 traffic stops, issued 26 citations and 18 warnings and made 1 CDS arrest.
- JFK – On May 17, troopers conducted 46 traffic stops and issued 38 citations and 12 warnings in Harford County.
- Annapolis – On May 17, troopers conducted 10 traffic stops and issued 8 citations and 4 warnings in Anne Arundel County.
- Forestville – On May 17, troopers patrolling I-495 in Prince George’s County conducted 19 traffic stops, issued 19 citations, 9 warnings and 2 safety equipment repair orders and made one warrant arrest. This is the latest effort to combat speeding concerns in the Washington region.
These figures did not include results from an additional initiative from May 12-15, when more than two dozen troopers from the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and the Golden Ring Barrack focused increased patrols in the area of I-70 and I-695. In that initiative, troopers directed specific enforcement to the area of eastbound I-70 approaching the ramp to I-695, where troopers had responded to six jack-knifed tractor trailer crashes in recent months. The cause of those commercial vehicle crashes was determined to be speed too great for conditions.
During the three-day operation aimed at both commercial and passenger vehicle drivers committing traffic violations, troopers made 276 traffic stops and issued 149 citations and 149 warnings. Troopers wrote 68 speeding citations, 40 of which were for speeds of 80 mph or higher. Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division troopers conducted 146 truck safety inspections. They placed 13 commercial vehicles and 8 drivers out of service for various equipment, safety and regulation violations. Troopers also cited four drivers for driving on suspended licenses. One suspended driver had failed to appear in court two times and was wanted on two open warrants for theft and a theft scheme.
Troopers are continuing enforcement initiatives like this throughout Maryland. Drivers are reminded that as the state reopens and warm weather arrives, more traffic will be on the road. All traffic laws need to be complied with, especially those related to speed and impaired driving. Obey the speed limit, don’t drive impaired and always buckle up.
