From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office:
August 27, 2013 [Harford County, Maryland] – The Harford County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint this Labor Day weekend. The checkpoint, part of the continued crack down on drunk driving, will take place during the late evening hours of Saturday Aug. 31 and continue into the early morning hours of Sept. 1.
The Sheriff’s Office is a participant in the annual nationwide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” drunk driving enforcement efforts. Deputies will be aggressively looking for drunk drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone caught driving drunk.
“Every year, about one third of all motor vehicle traffic deaths involve one or more drunk drivers or motorcycle operators,” said Sheriff L. Jesse Bane. “In 2011 9,878 people died in crashes involving drunk drivers. That works out to approximately one drunk driving fatality every 53 minutes.” Bane also added that holidays such as the Labor Day holiday are particularly dangerous. During the Labor Day weekend in 2011, 138 people were killed nationwide in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drivers or motorcycle riders with BACs of .08 or higher. Of those fatalities, 83 percent occurred during early evening and overnight hours.
Sheriff’s deputies have made 162 drunk driving arrests thus far in 2013. Drunk driving takes a particularly heavy toll among young drivers. Among 18- to 34-year-old drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the 2011 Labor Day weekend, 42 percent were alcohol-impaired. “Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement like ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ campaign reduces drunk-fatalities by as much 20 percent. By joining this nationwide effort, we will make Harford County roadways safer for everyone throughout period,” said Sheriff.
Bane noted that being arrested for driving drunk brings a wide range of negative consequences into one’s life. Drunk drivers face jail time, loss of their driver’s licenses, and steep financial consequences such as higher insurance rates, attorney’s fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators also often face tremendous personal embarrassment.
Some simple tips to help motorists and passengers keep safe this Labor Day holiday period—and all year long – include:
– Plan a safe way home before you start the Labor Day festivities;
– Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
– If you’re drunk, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
– If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement immediately;
– If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while drunk, be a friend and take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
“Driving drunk is simply not worth the risk. So don’t take the chance. Make smart choices and don’t drive drunk or under the influence. We will be out in force and we will be watching, so ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,’” said Sheriff Bane.
For more information, visit the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign Headquarters at www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.
HERE’s YOUR WARNING/billboard posting/etc.!
Close but no cigar. Still missing where the checkpoints are going to be. Anyone at the Dagger willing to call and ask?
Who doesn’t like surprises? Worried? Concerned? May be a good evening/wkd. for Mom’s and Dad’s to spend quality time with children …. or Family in general. Just a thought.
We can only hope that this guy stuck it up their ass so far that they now talk like a girl, lost their jobs, got sued, lost their house, their family and anything else of any value. Hopefully that rouge department got it stuck up their ass too, It almost looks like HCSD.
Only until you travel a mile (or few feet if patrolling Edgewood) in their shoes or are behind the badge will some understand/appreciate that the police uniform is a target for the guilty. An Officer has to ALWAYS be prepared for the worst. They are not always “Customer Service ~ How may I help you?” Again as I said before, ride along programs are available to the general public for most if not all agencies. Enquire and pursue! See the demands the GENERAL Public places upon them. See and experience what “they” do and “deal with” while we are sleeping, at home enjoying our family, spending time BBQ’ing on a weekend or sitting around a bon-fire telling jokes with friends. It can be an eye opener.
Drivin’s a privilege and ya ain’t got no roghts unless I says ya do. I’m here to protect and serve ya so you should spread yer cheeks an submit to my athoratay. Derp derp. Ya wanna be safe or what. Yup yup.
F. L.
No one supports the police more than I. However, using the excuse that being in law enforcement is a tough, thankless job is never going to be a justifiable reason for arrogant or illegal behavior by members of the law enforcement community. Essentially you are telling the public that the end justifies the means. It doesn’t work in court, and it doesn’t work in the minds of the public. Everyone is expected to play by the rules, as frustrating as that sometimes is.
Thanks Mike. Always appreciate your comments. What is shown is what I refer to as a “Kodak moment (ie Rodney King)” What was he/they doing prior to entry: Loud music?, weaving some into the lane?, rude comments through the window during the entry?, flashing lights?, or no lights? Few consider the ENTIRE story but are quick to decide and/or judge. based on “the moment”, ie Rodney King. I did notice it was not “taped/videoed” prior to/leading up to/during the beginning of the control point NOR afterwards and results. Just saying ……………. A “Kodak moment.” But they DID look innocent right?
PS. Sorry about typos. New fingers and High blood pressure med’S running low. Waiting for FULL OWE’Bama Care implementation to kick in to seek further help.
When you got new fingers you should have ask for a new brain.
F.L. – A “Kodak moment” exactly how long does a “moment” last? the video above lasts 6:28 and shows a series missteps and casual disregard if not habitual contempt for someone who as the officer states “knows his rights” I think a little piece of poop came out of that thugs tightly clenched sphincter when he saw the camera. THAT is the “Kodak moment” Just before this he said on camera that it wasn’t a good hit from the dog. Had he followed the rules he would have never been the celebrity that he is now. Welcome to YouTube Officer Ross. You are not being detained. You are free to go.
And I got so many thumbs down in the last sobriety checkpoint article for saying the checkpoints and searches are illegal and unconstitutional!
Test.
I have a bad feeling about this new policy, if it does indeed do its job in getting drunk or under the influence drivers into prison the conditions of prison will only make things worse. Sending people to jail for drunk driving is a worthwhile pursuit pragmatically, but if arrest rates increase, in the next decade crime in harford county will worsen as prison breeds harder criminals.