DUI Checkpoints & Crime on the Road, Sobriety Checkpoints

Holiday Driving – No Time For Turkeys

(Pikesville, MD) – While the YouTube video of a turkey actually driving a car has yet to be found, the practice of calling discourteous or unsafe drivers ‘turkeys’ is often employed by frustrated drivers traveling for the holidays, especially if the kids and/or grandmother are in the car.  Maryland State Police are hoping the talk of turkeys this week remains aimed at either the guest of honor at Thursday’s table, or the actions of football players as described by armchair quarterbacks.

To help keep Maryland roads safe, State Police Superintendent Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan has directed patrol troopers across the state to focus their efforts on traffic enforcement aimed at drivers endangering the safety of others.  “Our road patrol priorities this week and through the New Year will be initiatives focusing on aggressive drivers, drunk drivers, those driving above the speed limit, and those committing other violations that endanger our citizens and those visiting Maryland during the holidays,” Colonel Sheridan said.  “The potential for traffic fatalities and injuries is higher during the coming weeks due to increased automobile travel and an increase in the consumption of alcoholic beverages.  We will do all we can to diminish that potential and keep our highways safe.”

State Police Field Operations Bureau Chief Lt. Colonel G. Rob Turano has ordered commanders at all 22 barracks to employ high visibility patrols, especially for speed enforcement on Maryland interstates.  Special teams of troopers will also be saturating areas known to have a high frequency of DUI arrests or drunken driving related crashes.

When not handling calls for service, all patrol troopers will be involved in traffic enforcement efforts.  They will be supplemented by additional troopers working on overtime speed and DUI enforcement details.  Overtime will be funded through special federal and state speed/aggressive driver enforcement and DUI enforcement grants.

Troopers are also asking for the public’s help in locating drunk drivers.  If a possible drunk driver is observed, motorists are asked to call 911 when safe to do so.

Shoppers should also expect to see more troopers making regular patrol checks around shopping centers.  Troopers will be working with local law enforcement agencies in combined patrols at shopping centers and malls across Maryland.

Troopers hope those drivers who might be identified as “turkeys” change their unsafe driving behavior.  And, of course, if an actually turkey is found driving a car, troopers will make the apprehension and turn the bird over to animal control.  Dash-cam footage will be immediately forwarded to YouTube.

REPORT DRUNK DRIVERS – CALL 911

CONTACT:      Greg Shipley
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410-653-4236 (Office) 410-653-4200 (through Headquarters Duty Officer)
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