Crime & Safety

Park Police Holiday Goal: Zero Deaths on DC-Area Parkways

If you drink and drive, you will pay the price, police say.

 

Law enforcement will be out in force in the DC suburbs of Maryland Thanksgiving week, conducting sobriety checkpoints and checking for seatbelt usage.

The Maryland-National Capital Park Police will be participating with other law enforcement agencies throughout the Washington, DC, area for the Checkpoint Strikeforce Program from Nov. 21-25.

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The Checkpoint Strikeforce Program aims to provide education to the public about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving.

The focus of this campaign will be “belts and booze” and officers will be watching for people who are not properly restrained or who are driving impaired, park police said in a press release.

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The program's goal is to have zero deaths from impaired driving on DC area parkways.

“Enjoying Thanksgiving with family and friends should create joyous memories,” said acting Chief Antonio DeVaul. “Don’t turn the holiday into a tragic memory because of bad decisions.”

Sobriety checkpoints will be present on many roadways and impaired drivers will be arrested and taken off roads. In addition, Park Police officers will be patrolling the parkways and stopping anyone who appears to be driving impaired.

“Our officers will be doing everything they can to prevent any traffic-related injuries or deaths in the parks and on the parkways,” said DeVaul.  “We want your help, so please don’t drink and drive.”

 


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