From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND — Maryland state troopers in Allegany and Garrett counties logged 455 traffic stops during the Thanksgiving holiday traffic enforcement period.
In Allegany County, troopers of the Cumberland barrack logged 243 traffic stops throughout the county during the five-day enforcement period.
Those troopers issued 128 traffic citations and 178 warnings. They also arrested two people for driving under the influence and made six criminal arrests. Troopers responded to five motor vehicle accidents, according to Lt. Todd May, commander of the Cumberland barrack.
In Garrett County, troopers of the McHenry barrack logged 212 traffic stops, issued 123 citations and 128 warnings.
Those troopers handled one traffic accident investigation, one drug arrest and one warrant arrest from Nov. 23 through 27, according to a barrack official.
Statewide, troopers issued more than 10,000 traffic citations and warnings as part of a variety of increased enforcement efforts that ranged from DUI patrols to cargo theft prevention.
Maryland State Police increased patrols throughout the holiday period and focused enforcement efforts on drunken driving, aggressive driving and speeding. Troopers issued 5,231 citations and 5,009 warnings for traffic violations from Wednesday through Sunday.
Troopers also made 156 criminal arrests during that period.
The officers worked special drunken driving saturation patrols throughout Maryland and arrested 113 suspected drunken drivers.
Troopers responded to 284 traffic crashes statewide. Maryland State Police investigated five fatal crashes in which six people were killed. Two of those crashes occurred in Frederick County and the others occurred in Washington, Harford and Queen Anne’s counties.
The Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division was busy in the days leading up to the holiday. Those troopers conducted “Operation Night Owl,” an extra enforcement initiative aimed at preventing cargo theft and reducing the number of unsafe commercial vehicle operating during the period of increased travel.
From Nov. 18 through 23, enforcement division troopers conducted 1,260 commercial vehicle inspections. Troopers placed 133 commercial vehicles out of service for serious equipment violations and placed 137 commercial drivers out of service for being unqualified, exceeding drive hours or other safety regulation violations.
Working in weigh stations and using portable scales, troopers found 205 of the trucks they checked to be overweight. The enforcement division troopers issued 746 citations and 644 warnings.
Maryland State Police traffic safety efforts will be continuing through the New Year’s holiday. Initiatives will be worked in cooperation with local law enforcement, the Maryland Highway Safety Office and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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