Maryland State Police Boosting DUI Enforcement for St. Patrick’s Day Weekend

Maryland State Police will deploy extra patrols across all regions from March 13-17 to target impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers during St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Officers from all 23 barracks will focus on high-crash corridors and conduct saturation patrols with funding from the state's Highway Safety Office.

Law enforcement officials in Maryland are preparing for heightened road safety enforcement as St. Patrick’s Day weekend approaches, with state troopers warning drivers to stay alert and avoid dangerous behaviors behind the wheel.

Officers from all 23 Maryland State Police barracks will deploy enhanced patrol operations from Friday, March 13 through Tuesday, March 17, targeting drivers who operate vehicles while impaired, distracted, or aggressively. The specialized State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) unit will join regular troopers in concentrating on roadways known for frequent alcohol-related accidents. The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office is providing financial support for these enforcement activities.

The comprehensive patrol strategy will span five regions throughout the state:

Eastern Region: Officers stationed at Berlin, Centreville, Easton, Princess Anne and Salisbury will concentrate enforcement activities on primary travel routes, specifically Route 301 and Route 50.

Central Region: Personnel from College Park, Forestville, Golden Ring, Rockville, Waterloo and Westminster stations will maintain highly visible presence on Interstate 495, Interstate 270, and Routes 50, 5 and 301. Westminster officers will coordinate their efforts with both Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and Westminster City Police Department.

Western Region: Troopers based in Cumberland, Frederick, Hagerstown and McHenry will prioritize accident prevention and DUI detection on key highways including Interstate 70, Interstate 81, and Routes 40 and 65.

Northern Region: Law enforcement from Bel Air, JFK Memorial Highway and North East facilities will target locations with documented histories of impairment-related collisions.

Southern Region: Officers from Annapolis, Glen Burnie, La Plata, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick will monitor heavily traveled corridors such as Route 295 and Interstate 695.

For individuals planning to attend St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, police recommend several safety measures: Choose a designated driver before leaving home and hand over vehicle keys to that person. Avoid consuming alcohol if you intend to operate a vehicle. Explore public transit options, taxi services, or ride-sharing applications. Prevent intoxicated friends from getting behind the wheel. Contact emergency services at 911 if you observe suspected impaired driving. Always wear seatbelts and stay focused on driving without texting or using handheld devices.

Those hosting St. Patrick’s Day gatherings should remember their potential legal responsibility if guests they serve alcohol to cause impaired driving incidents. Hosts should provide substantial food options and non-alcoholic drink choices, arrange transportation alternatives in advance for drinking guests, keep local taxi contact information accessible, and confiscate keys from anyone considering impaired driving.

Authorities emphasize the importance of responsible celebration practices and urge all motorists to avoid impaired, aggressive, and distracted driving behaviors during the holiday period.