Police Combat Drunk Driving During the Holiday Season

For the holiday season, Montgomery County launched a multi-agency Holiday Task Force which is designed to ensure that everyone enjoys the upcoming holiday season, but making sure drivers aren't impaired.  

The force-including officers from six district stations and the Maryland State-will work to detect alcohol and drug related offenses. The task force techniques will include several techniques:

• Saturation Patrol: Officers will enforce traffic laws in areas known for a high number of alcohol-related incidents. Based on collision and arrest data, additional officers will be assigned to these areas with the goal of apprehending alcohol-or-drug-impaired drivers.

• Compliance Checks: Underage volunteers attempt to purchase alcohol at establishments that hold alcohol licenses.  

• Controlled Dispersal of Underage Parties: Police frequently respond to calls for underage drinking parties. After confirmation that an underage drinking party is occurring, a controlled dispersal plan is enacted to ensure that everyone in attendance gets home safely. Alcohol citations are issued to those under the age of 21 that are determined to have consumed alcohol as well as to any adult who provides alcohol to underage persons.

• Sobriety checkpoints.

The night before Thanksgiving is known as one of the busiest nights for underage drinking during the year. In turn, Operation “Turkey Chase” is planned Wednesday, Nov. 23. Addtional police officers will be join the Task Force in holding a sobriety checkpoint and a seatbelt safety zone.