Not wearing a seat belt and impairment from alcohol or drugs are leading causes of traffic fatalities in Montgomery County. To keep roadways safer this upcoming holiday season, Montgomery County Police, along with respective city and State police agency partners, starting TODAY, Monday, Nov. 16, will be teaming up for dedicated enforcement of seatbelt and driving under the influence laws.

“Since the pandemic began, we have seen a ‘triple threat’ of excessive speeds, impaired driving and not wearing a seatbelt that have resulted in people losing their lives on our roads,” said Captain David McBain of the traffic division of County Police. “People driving above the speed limit and impaired are dangers to themselves and everyone on the road. We want everyone to get home safe and these mobilizations are a reminder about the responsibilities we all have to keep our roads safe.”

County Police will kick-off the “Click It or Ticket” campaign by joining law enforcement across the United States in the “Border to Border” initiative. That is a one-day national seat belt awareness event coordinated by participating states on Nov.16. The campaign will continue through the end of November. In addition to enforcement efforts, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration supports an $8 million public awareness advertising campaign.

The County Police Alcohol Holiday Task Force, comprised of specifically assigned officers from the Alcohol Initiatives Section and patrol officers from the six police districts, as well as officers from the Gaithersburg Police Department, the Rockville City Police Department, the Maryland-National Capital Park Police Department (Montgomery County Division), the Takoma Park Police Department, troopers from Maryland State Police and sheriff deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, will be devoting their full attention to detecting alcohol-related offenses during the special enforcement campaign.

County Police will have seven full-time Alcohol Initiatives Unit officers and 20 additional officers assigned to the task force. Other departments and agencies will have various numbers of officers participating in the enforcement efforts. Among the actions of the task force partners will be to stop suspected drunk drivers and to work with the County’s Department of Alcohol and Beverage Services inspectors on retail compliance with ID and legal age laws.

The task force will begin on Nov. 16 and will continue through Jan. 1. Over the past two years, the Holiday Task Force has removed more than 600 impaired drivers from local roads. The task force’s work will once again be dedicated to County Police Officer Noah Leotta, who was killed by a drunk driver while on duty as part of the 2015 task force.

Anyone who believes that are observing a driver impaired by alcohol or drugs should:

• Call 911.
• If possible, and without putting themselves in danger, safely obtain the license plate number of the vehicle, note its direction of travel and try to identify a description of the vehicle (make, model, color).

If anyone has information on establishments that are selling alcohol to youth under 21 or are over-serving patrons:

• If it is occurring at the present time, call the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.
• If it is believed to be an ongoing issue, call Crime Solvers toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or leave a Crime Solvers tip at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pol/howdoI/crime-solvers.html.
• Callers can remain anonymous. Provide as much information as possible. Tips will be forwarded to the Alcohol Initiatives Section.
• 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 anyone has information on an underage drinking party:

• If it is occurring at the present time, call the police non-emergency number at 301-279-8000.
• If you believe a party is planned for a future date, call the Keeping it SAFE: Under Twenty-One Alcohol Prevention Coalition at 301-670-7233. Callers can leave a message and remain anonymous. Callers also can contact Crime Solvers toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Provide as much information as possible.  Tips will be forwarded to the Alcohol Initiatives Section.

Education and enforcement campaign mobilizations to curb dangerous driving behaviors are part of Montgomery County’s Vision Zero Initiative to eliminate serious and fatal injuries from roadways by 2030. For more information on the County’s Vision Zero Initiative, go to https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/visionzero/index.html

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