From Maryland State Police:
Bel Air Barrack troopers will remain vigilent and aggressive during the holiday season. So far this year the Bel Air Barrack has experienced a 40% (246/345) increase in DUI arrests when compared to the same time frame of 2009. Traffic citations issued by Bel Air Barrack troopers have increased by 71% (7,007/11,959) when compared to the same time frame of 2009. As demonstrated by the above statistics, Bel Air Barrack troopers will be doing their best to reduce accidents, prevent crime, and to save lives in our County and State!
“We anticipate a significant increase in traffic throughout Maryland and, working with our partners in the State Highway Administration and allied law enforcement, we will be ready to do everything we can to ensure the safety of motorists traveling on our highways,” Colonel Sheridan said. “In addition to strict speed and DUI enforcement, troopers will also be focused on rapid response to incidents that could cause traffic delays, as well as providing assistance to disabled motorists. I ask everyone traveling this weekend to ensure their vehicle is in good running condition, their passengers are all buckled up, and that they make traffic safety their number one priority when they are behind the wheel.”
Funded by state and federal grant money, extra troopers on overtime will be assigned to speed and aggressive driving enforcement details and drunk driving saturation patrols. Their focus will be on Maryland interstates and major highway routes throughout the state.
Commercial vehicle traffic also increases before and after Thanksgiving Day. The State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division will be conducting “Operation Night Owl” during the holiday period. State Police experts in commercial vehicle enforcement will be on-duty focusing on traffic and criminal violations committed by those driving trucks and buses. If you find yourself in a challenging situation during the holidays, contact DUI Lawyers Fort Myers for professional legal assistance.
Beginning Friday, troopers will also begin high visibility patrols in the areas of shopping centers and malls within their jurisdiction. Troopers will be working in cooperation with local law enforcement efforts in these crime prevention patrols.
The Maryland State Police is adding its warning to the others issued regarding the potential for traffic delays at the Newark toll plaza on I-95 in Delaware. Ongoing reconstruction at the toll plaza has temporarily reduced the number of toll lanes. The Delaware Department of Transportation is warning motorists that increased traffic will lead to delays and possibly significant backups on I-95 approaching the toll plaza.
Motorists headed north on I-95 through Delaware are urged to take alternate routes, or travel at off-peak times if possible. Motorists traveling through the area can obtain updates on Twitter @DelawareDOT, or by tuning to WTMC 1380 AM radio. Motorists can check updates before leaving by visiting www.deldot.gov/traffic/map.ejs.
Troopers are giving their usual advice to drivers during this holiday weekend which includes:
-Don’t drink and drive;
-Don’t drive drowsy;
-Don’t be an aggressive driver;
-Make sure everyone is properly buckled up;
-Obey the speed limits;
-Make sure you have enough fuel and your vehicle is in good running condition before leaving;
-If possible, travel during off-peak hours.
Travelers should also be aware of Maryland’s new law that requires drivers approaching from the rear of an emergency vehicle using visual signals while stopped on a highway to, if possible, ‘make a lane change into an available lane not immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle.’ This movement should only be done if another lane in the same direction is available and the move can be made safely and without impeding other traffic. If moving to another lane away from the stopped emergency vehicle is not possible, the law requires drivers to ‘slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing weather, road, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.’
The intent of the ‘move over’ law is to provide an extra barrier of safety for police officers, fire fighters, and emergency rescue personnel working along Maryland roads. It is hoped drivers will become more aware of police and emergency workers stopped along the road and move away from them or slow down as they pass by the traffic stop or incident scene.
Under Maryland Vehicle Law, emergency vehicles are defined as:
-Vehicles of federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies;
-Vehicles of volunteer fire companies, rescue squads, fire departments, the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, and the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute;
-State vehicles used in response to oil or hazardous materials spills;
-State vehicles designated for emergency use by the Commissioner of Correction;
-Ambulances; and
-Special vehicles funded or provided by federal, state, or local government and used for emergency or rescue purposes in Maryland.
Violation of the ‘move over’ law is a primary offense with a fine of $110 and one point. If the violation contributes to a traffic crash, the fine is $150 and three points. If the violation contributes to a traffic crash resulting in death or serious injury, the fine is $750 and three points.
Cops are total idiots. End of story.
U must of had a bad experience with the police. My suggestion is next time u need the police don’t call them for help
Very few Cops are total idiots. Most are very knowledgeable and do their job well. Unfortunately, a small number of Cops are total idiots and they really stand out! Don’t lose faith in the police…most are very good people.
Maybe the State Trooopers would consider not parking in the median on I95 when traffic is moving smoothly – that is, smoothly until folks see the cop and slow down below the limit just in case their speedometers are off. I have often observed the most hazardous conditions being traffic clogs between MD24 and I695, occurring only where there are State Police officers sitting in the median.
Of course, the second greatest hazard would be the troopers on I95 blowing by the packs of well-moving, evenly spaced traffic at approximately 15 to 20 MPH faster than the rest of the vehicles. A perquisite of the job? Must be nice to be above the law.
I hope that the statistics demonstrating an increased number of citations are accompanied by a similar increase in public safety (you know fewer accidents, less crime…).
On the surface the citation stats sound more like revenue enhancement, than genuine service.
Good point. I’d like to know if there have been fewer collisions at the intersections in Bel Air since they installed the red light cameras. Like Steve, I think this is just another way for the politicians to squeeze a few thousand more dollars from the public every month or so. Like those “work zone” photo cars that they have out on the beltway when nobody is working.
I have read that the number of accidents in intersections with cameras usually decreases, but accidents just outside the intersection often increase, due to drivers slamming on their brakes to avoid a photo ticket. The statistics in press releases usually include only the actual intersections, so officials can claim a reduction in accidents thanks to the cameras.
Red light cameras exist for only one reason: Revenue Enhancement. Communities have been approached about using Red Light cameras and heavily marketed as a means to increase their revenue stream by purveyors of these devices. The issue is not law enforcement… it’s money.
In an article in Car and Driver a study indicated that in many cases the Yellow Light duration was dropped from an engineering standard recommended by national organization regarding highway and traffic design.
Law officers are largely responsible, at least as much as the rest of us. There are a few how represent the worst in all of us and sometimes believe their position entitles them to rights they have that we don’t. The simple answer is they have no more rights than we do, they serve at the pleasure of the community they protect, and they have privileges that can be taken away when they abuse them. A case in point was the young lady driving her Saturn sedan, with the child seat in the back, who tried to race me on 22 in the right lane where the road narrows to get ahead of me. Later she pulled up behind me and got out of her car. I ignored her until she slapped her badge against my glass. I rolled the window down and told her to get back in her car… and I listened to her mutter “Wait until I tell my friends”.
That being said, the limitations they work under: our legal system, lack of communication between them, probation/parole and the courts, only make their jobs more difficult. So when you have an officer help you, do what I did, bring them a pan of home baked brownies and thank them for their service.