The Frederick Police Department announced today they are joining with other federal, state and local highway safety and law enforcement officials across the nation in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving this March and April. The Frederick Police Department will participate in and support saturation patrols and DUI checkpoints conducted through the Maryland Highway Safety Office under Checkpoint Strikeforce throughout the Spring in an effort to prevent and reduce traffic accidents.

In every State as well as the District of Columbia it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter or higher.

In 2010 there were 10,228 alcohol-impaired driving crashes in the United States. Nationwide one alcohol-impaired driving fatality occurred every 51 minutes. In Maryland more than 1/3 of all traffic fatalities were alcohol related.

Joseph Palkovic, Planning Officer for the Frederick Police Department said, "Our officers will be out there reducing traffic accidents by enforcing traffic safety laws. Our proactive approach includes efforts at educating the public and apprising our citizens ahead of time to improve voluntary compliance. Communication with our citizens is one of the best ways to improve safety and the quality of life in our City. We want our citizens to know we will be out there protecting them and trying to save lives."

Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is simply not worth the risk, not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be really significant. Violators often face jail time, loss of their driver’s licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial costs include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects.