‘Drinksgiving’ DUI Checkpoint Planned In Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — If you're planning to start your Thanksgiving celebration on Wednesday night, or "Drinksgiving," take heed: The Montgomery County Police Alcohol Holiday Task Force will be conducting a checkpoint looking for drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, authorities said.

Dubbed "Drinksgiving" or "Backout Wednesday," AAA reminds those headed out Wednesday night should plan for a designated driver or use of a car share service like Uber or Lyft.

The locations of Wednesday's checkpoint is based on collision and traffic data focusing on areas where drivers are most at risk for encountering impaired drivers.

From 2012 to 2016, over 800 people died nationwide in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period (6:00 p.m. Wednesday to 5:59 a.m. Monday), making it the deadliest holiday on our roads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The task force consists of officers from the Alcohol Initiatives Section and patrol officers from the six police districts, as well as officers from the Gaithersburg Police Department, the Maryland National Capital Park Police Department (Montgomery County Division), the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, the Rockville City Police Department, troopers from Maryland State Police and sheriff deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

The task force will focus on enforcement of offenses including:

• Enforcement of traffic laws in areas known for a high number of alcohol-related collisions with the goal of getting drunk or drug-impaired drivers off the road.
• Compliance checks of businesses who hold alcohol licenses by using underage volunteers to attempt to purchase alcohol at establishments (ensuring that shopkeepers are careful not to sell alcohol to minors).
• Responding to calls for underage drinking parties. All attendees are screened for alcohol usage, and those who are under age 21 are issued citations. Every person is then ensured a safe ride home. Parents of juveniles are notified to come and get them. Any parent or other adult who hosts can be held liable and can be issued a citation. An adult can be held criminally liable if he/she provides alcohol to an individual under 21 years and he/she knew or reasonably should have known the individual would operate a motor vehicle and did operate the vehicle under the influence of alcohol and caused serious injury or death (Alex and Calvin’s Law).
• Sobriety checkpoints: The location of the checkpoints is based on collision and traffic data focusing on areas that drivers are most at risk for encountering impaired drivers.
• Responding to calls for service regarding intoxicated persons.

If you plan on drinking alcohol this holiday season, include a sober driver in your plans, police said. Call a taxi, Uber, phone a sober friend or family member, use public transportation or call Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s SoberRide at 1-800-200-TAXI.

If you believe you are observing a driver impaired by alcohol or drugs:

• Call 911. If possible, and without putting yourself in danger, safely obtain the license plate of the vehicle, the direction of travel of the vehicle, and a description of the vehicle (make, model, color).

If you have information on establishments that are selling alcohol to youth under 21 or over serving patrons:

• If it is occurring at the present time, you can call the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.

• If you believe it is an ongoing issue, you can call Crime Solvers toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or leave a Crime Solvers tip here. You can remain anonymous. Please provide as much information as possible. Tips will be forwarded to the Alcohol Initiatives Section.

• You can also call the Keeping it SAFE: Under Twenty-One Alcohol Prevention Coalition at 301-670-7233 to report an ongoing issue of an establishment selling alcohol to minors. Tips will be forwarded to the Alcohol Initiatives Section.

If you have information on an underage drinking party:

• If it is occurring at the present time, you can call the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.

• If you have knowledge of a party planned for a future date, you can call the Keeping it SAFE: Under Twenty-One Alcohol Prevention Coalition at 301-670-7233. You can leave a message and remain anonymous. You can also call Crime Solvers toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Please provide as much information as possible. Tips will be forwarded to the Alcohol Initiatives Section.

The task force will continue through Jan. 6, 2018.

Photo via Pixabay