BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland State Police will increase patrols over St. Patrick’s Day weekend in an effort to reduce drunk driving, officials say.

According to state police, the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort team will be working this weekend to help reduce alcohol-related injuries and fatalities. The team is made up of specially trained troopers tasked with identifying impaired drivers.

The safety initiative is funded by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office and aims to reduce drunk driving, especially for those attending St. Patrick’s Day events.

Troopers from all 23 barracks will be conducting saturation patrols on roads with high DUI incidents from Friday through Sunday, officials say. The Cumberland Barrack will focus on DUI enforcement efforts on corridors with high traffic-related incidents in Allegany County, while the Annapolis Barrack will work on Route 50, Interstate 97, and the Annapolis City area, according to state police.

In Baltimore County, the Golden Ring Barrack will concentrate enforcement efforts on Interstate 695, and in Carroll County, the Westminster Barrack will conduct DUI enforcement on major routes including 140 and 30, as well as feeder roads, officials say. In Cecil County, the North East Barrack will conduct DUI saturation patrols in areas with high traffic-related incidents, and in Charles County, the La Plata Barrack will work with Maryland Transportation Authority Police to conduct DUI saturation patrols and High Visibility Enforcement on Route 301, according to state police.

Troopers will also be conducting saturation patrols on major corridors, including Interstate 70 in Frederick County, according to officials. In Garrett County, the McHenry Barrack will work on Interstate 68, and in Montgomery County, the Rockville Barrack will work with Montgomery County Police to conduct saturation patrols in Gaithersburg’s Rio and Crown areas, officials say. In Prince George’s County, the Forestville Barracks will bolster patrol on routes 301 and 5 and the southern parts of the county, and the College Park Barrack will work on Route 1 and Interstate 495, according to state police. In Wicomico County, the Salisbury Barrack will concentrate efforts on routes 50 and 13, and in Worcester County, the Berlin Barrack will conduct DUI enforcement on routes 50 and 90 and West Ocean City, officials say.

Police urge people to avoid drinking and driving, and to call a taxi or ride-share service if they are feeling impaired.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.