Prince Frederick, MD – Calvert County’s Designated Driver Campaign, an effort to eradicate impaired driving began Dec. 1 and will continue until Jan. 2. During the Calvert County Commissioners’ Dec. 9 meeting, officers from the sheriff’s office and local Maryland State Police (MSP) barracks were saluted for their year-round success in nabbing inebriated motorists.
The annual Designated Driver Campaign is sponsored by the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) and the Calvert County Traffic Safety Council. The awareness campaign enlists local restaurants, clubs, bars and civic organizations to help promote the designation of someone who is not imbibing in holiday spirits to get behind the wheel and transport those who do drink safely to their homes.
The campaign also urges residents not to provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.
According to CAASA Coordinator Candace D-Agostino, Calvert County law enforcement cited 665 motor vehicle drivers from Jan. 1 to Nov. 1 for driving under the influence (DUI).
“We’re seeing a lot more drugged drivers,” said Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans [R], who thanked the Maryland Highway Safety Office for its help in making the county’s periodic sobriety checkpoint efforts possible.
“I think we’re going in the right direction,” said MSP Prince Frederick Barrack Commander Lt. Sean R. Morris, who added the number of cited drivers is going down statewide.
The officers saluted during the Dec. 9 meeting were, from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Dfc. Yuri Bortchevsky, Dfc. Roscoe Kreps, Dfc. Justin Livingston, Cpl. Tony Moschetto and Dfc. Moises Velasquez; from the MSP, Tfc. Christopher J. Esnes, Tfc. William Costello, Tfc. Justin Oles, Trooper Jeffery Palumbo, Tfc. David Saucerman, and Tfc. Wiesemann.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com