Howard County, Maryland issued the following announcement on Nov. 21.
Drive sober or get pulled over. Howard County Police Department will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint at an undisclosed location over the holiday weekend to promote awareness and reduce the number of alcohol-impaired drivers on the roads. The checkpoint is part of the agency’s overall traffic safety initiative to keep county roads safe for residents and travelers. It will be clearly marked with signs, lights and uniformed officers.
In addition to checkpoints, the department conducts several DUI patrol details throughout the year in which extra officers are on the road specifically to address the issue of impaired driving. These specialized patrols will take place throughout the holiday season, and continue throughout 2019. Officers have arrested more than 700 drivers for driving under the influence so far this year. Twenty-one percent of Howard County’s fatal collisions in 2018 have involved impaired driving.
Howard County checkpoints are part of the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign and are funded in part by a grant from the Maryland Highway Safety Office. They are conducted in partnership with Maryland State Police and with support from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Police urge drivers to always drive sober, obey the speed limit, wear a seat belt and eliminate distractions.
Officers will be on the roads throughout the holiday season focusing not only on DUIs, but also speeding, seat belt and child safety seat violations, distracted driving, and other traffic violations. If you see an impaired driver on the road, please call 911.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Howard County, Maryland
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