The Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack and St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office conducted two sobriety checkpoints on May 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The locations were designated based on previous impaired driving arrests, crashes, injuries or fatalities. The checkpoints were on Route 234 near Horseshoe Road and on Route 5 near South Snowhill Road.
More than 250 vehicles passed through the Route 234 checkpoint and six drivers were directed to the testing site for further testing; 178 vehicles passed through the Route 5 location and two drivers were directed to the testing site.
None were found to be in violation of impaired driving laws during the checkpoints. Maryland State Police conducted saturation patrols during and following the sobriety checkpoints and arrested four impaired drivers.
An impaired driver does not just put him or herself at risk, but everyone traveling on the roadways, including pedestrians and bicyclists. The St. Mary’s County Highway Safety Program and law enforcement agencies remind you that “catching a buzz” is impaired driving. Even “just a few drinks” can interfere with driving and other skills.
Sobriety Checkpoints will be conducted at least twice a month in St. Mary’s County.
Seat Belt Enforcement Zone Conducted at Solomons Bridge, Point Lookout
St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack joined forces with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and the Prince Frederick Barrack to conduct a seat belt enforcement zone.
During the checkpoint, 1,692 vehicles passed through the Route 4 northbound lane, with 34 seat belt citations issued, along with two SEROs (equipment repair orders) and one suspended tag violation.
St. Mary’s seat belt use rate measured 98% during this checkpoint.
The seat belt enforcement activity is a continuation of the national, state and local “Click It or Ticket” campaign.
On average, 37% of drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes in St. Mary’s County are unrestrained. Fifty percent of young drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes are unrestrained, and 42 percent of drivers 65 and older killed in motor vehicle crashes are unrestrained.
The Department of Natural Resource Police conducted seat belt enforcement at the entrance of Point Lookout State Park on May 24, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Seat belt use decreased from the St. Mary’s County observational survey site rate of 95% to a low rate of 85%. This is below not only the St. Mary’s seat belt use rate, but it is below the state use rate of 91.5%.
Strict and intense enforcement of seat belt laws will continue in St. Mary’s County. Anyone not wearing a seat belt will be ticketed.
Maryland has a primary seat belt law, meaning anyone not wearing a seat belt can be pulled over and cited without any other violations occurring.