Crime & Safety

Howard County Police Ramp Up Patrols on Roads, Waterways for Labor Day Weekend

From Howard County to Ocean City, officers will be watching.

During Labor Day weekend, Howard County police will be on the lookout for intoxicated drivers, the department announced on Thursday.

The Howard County Police Department (HCPD) will establish DUI patrols as part of what it calls “an intensive crackdown on impaired driving” spearheaded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

On nights and weekends, HCPD said it will be especially vigilant, since alcohol is more common in crashes during these times.

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Almost one third of fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involve a driver with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Last year in Howard County, alcohol was a factor in six of 13 fatal collisions, and 1,645 people were arrested for driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated. 

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If you’re headed to the beach, there will be additional patrols in Ocean City—on waterways.

There have been 20 deaths this year related to boating incidents, according to the Maryland State Police. "In a normal year, there are 12 boating deaths throughout the state," said Maryland Natural Resources Police Sargeant Art Windermuth.

From helicopters, Maryland State Police and Maryland Natural Resources Police will be watching boaters, on the lookout for speed limit violations, reckless operation, alcohol use and safety equipment compliance, according to a press release from the Maryland State Police.

On both waterways and highways, police said they share the goal of reducing fatalities over the holiday weekend.

“As police officers, one of our toughest jobs is telling a family member that their loved one won’t be coming home,” Howard County’s Police Chief William McMahon said in a press release Thursday. “Drunken driving collisions are no accident. They are preventable, and through enforcement, we will save lives.”


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