MD 210 Speed Camera Statistics (2020)

Total Citations with the 4 full months of camera operation in 2019 added:

Data provided by Captain Hendershot, Commander, PGPD Automated Enforcement Unit

Traffic Enforcement on Route 210

 From Major Keleti, Commander, Special Operations Division, PGPD:

I wanted to keep everyone informed on the progress we are making on our route 210 traffic initiative.  The Traffic Enforcement Section assigned to the Special Operations Division conducted speed enforcement on Indian Head Highway between December 21st and December 27th.  Below is the statistical data from our enforcement efforts.

I would like to highlight our activity for the week.  Officer arrested 1 individual for DUI.  The evidentiary breath test was .09%.  Another incident a driver was stopped for exceeding the posted speed limit and arrested for possession of 52 grams of suspected marijuana.  It should be noted his 4-year-old child was in the vehicle.  Our top speeds were:

• 70 -79 mph:        3
• 80-89 mph:         5
• 90-99 mph:         3
• 100+ mph:          1

Happy New Years and always please stay safe!

On MD 210, Drivers Caught DUI in Charles County Are Much More Likely to Serve Jail Time than Drivers Caught DUI in Prince George's County

(Click on the image for Scott MacFarlane's News4 report)

• Drivers charged for DUI were less likely to receive jail sentences in Prince George’s County than in neighboring counties, according to an investigation by the News-4 I-Team.
• Of the 75 DUI arrests on the highway [MD 210], approximately half of which have been closed by the Prince George’s County court system, only one case resulted in a defendant serving jail time, according to the court records reviewed. The other cases resulted mainly in fines.
• Victims of drunken driving cases said Prince George’s County leaders must find a way to stiffen penalties.
• Across the county line in Charles County, along the same roadway, Route 210, drivers received stiffer sentences. The I-Team’s review of Maryland State Police arrest records and court case files found about half of the closed DUI cases resulted in jail time for the drivers.
• But the Mejias, facing the heartbreaking mark of two years since their children died, said the I-Team’s findings show a need for change and that many of the drunken drivers who are stopped before causing a crash should also face jail time.
• “If there is no lesson [being] taught, when is the change going to happen? It’s not going to happen, ” Juanita Mejia said.

District VII Police Helping Those in Need

From Cpl. Blackwell:

We had a wonderful time helping those in need this holiday season. The CAC's generous donation was used to assist 20 seniors identified by staff at the Fort Washington Manor apartments. Additionally, with help from other community partners, we were also able to give gift cards to all 48 residents of the low-income property of the Fort Washington Adventist apartments. With the gracious donations from various community associations, we also provided some relief to a family of 9 (7 children, mother, and father).

We truly appreciate the CAC and our community partners' assistance in helping bring smiles and some relief this season. Happy Holidays to you all, and I hope everyone has the opportunity to cherish their loved ones.

From the CAC:

Well done! Many thanks for continuing to keep our communities safe and reaching out to the needy! We greatly appreciate you.

 

The Prince George's County Police Non-Emergency Dispatch Number is 301-352-1200

Now, there is a new Prince George's County Police information number. It is 301-516-9777.

Do not confuse the Police information number with the Non-Emergency dispatch number, 301-352-1200. The Emergency number is 911.

The emergency and non-emergency numbers are dispatch numbers that go to the Public Safety Communications Center where they take your call and dispatch (send) the appropriate first responder to the scene.

From Bill McGown at the Center:

Our personnel have been the default operators for residents who wanted to speak to someone in the police department or had a police related question but did not know who to contact.  They would call the non-emergency dispatch number and unfortunately our on-duty personnel would get tied up trying to help direct their police inquiries/information requests that had nothing to do with dispatching an officer.  This created additional delays in our ability to answer calls involving non-emergency dispatch requests.  Working with the police department we are hopeful that as people learn about the new number, they will not be calling us asking to be transferred to a district station or some other police division.  Our phone tree is being updated to remove the police options so that it will be more user friendly.

With the on-line reporting and the creation of a police department phone tree we are addressing two goals that we have had in our effort to reduce non-emergency dispatch line answering times.  I will keep you updated on the progress, I hope this explanation is sufficient, feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

Click here for audio of the Police Information, 301-515-9777, phone tree.

Traffic Enforcement on Route 210

 From Major Keleti, Commander, Special Operations Division, PGPD:

I would like to highlight our activity for the week.  Officers arrested 5 individuals for DUI.  The evidentiary breath tests were .08%, .08%, .18% BrAC., 1 refusal, and 1 DRE for under the influence of PCP.  One incident the driver arrested for DUI had his 4-year-old child in the vehicle.  Our top speed was 140 mph in which the driver failed to stop, and no pursuit was initiated.  Other high speeds cited for: 100 mph in a 55-mph zone, 71 mph in a 45-mph zone, and 68 mph in a 45-mph zone.

Please stay safe!

How do you know when it's time for your loved one to limit or stop driving?

(Click on the image for the AARP seminar.)

It’s a tough subject for most families, but it's a serious matter. Now there's help. AARP offers a free online seminar called We Need to Talk that will help you determine how to assess your loved ones’ driving skills and provide tools to help you have this important conversation. And since it's online, you can set your own pace.

District VII Crime Statistics

 These are per Major Mitchell's report at the Dec 9, 2020 South County Community Roundtable (SCCR):

Distracted Driving Skyrocketing During the Pandemic

(Click on the image for the report)

• A new study of COVID-era car crashes finds that a shocking 27 percent of all drivers were using their cell phones within 60 seconds of impact — and transportation safety leaders are doing almost nothing to stop it, despite a preponderance of proven strategies that can compel us to put down our devices when we’re behind the wheel.
• Alarmingly, 16.8 percent of drivers the company studied were using their cell phones in the five seconds immediately prior to impact — and the problem got increasingly worse as the year wore on, and more and more cars returned to the road and rates of other dangerous behaviors, like speeding, dropped.

Police Reform Work Group Report & Recommendations

(Click on the image for the report)

Prince George's County PAL Virtual Sock Drive

The Prince George's County Police Athletic League is conducting a sock drive to benefit the homeless. New socks are surprisingly hard to come by in homeless shelters, but they make a huge difference in the comfort level and cleanliness of the individuals. Socks are a particularly important donation especially now that winter is upon us and the need is greater than ever this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This drive is virtual to keep everyone safe.  Donations can be made by visiting our Charity Wish List on Amazon using this link.  Please help by donating to our sock drive and spreading the word to your family and friends!

 

Traffic Enforcement on Route 210

From Major Keleti, Commander, Special Operations Division, PGPD:

I wanted to keep everyone informed on the progress we are making on our route 210 traffic initiative.  The Traffic Unit assigned to the Special Operations Division conducted speed enforcement on Indian Head Highway between November 23rd and 29th.  Attached is the statistical data from our enforcement efforts.

I would like to highlight one of the traffic stops on November 25th.  Units were conducting LASER speed enforcement on Indian Head Highway in the construction zone at 10:10 am when a pickup truck approached and was targeted by LASER doing 70 mph in a 45 mph “work zone”.  The officer attempted to flag down the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to stop.  The vehicle was eventually stopped, and the officer noticed that the vehicle was occupied by 4 persons, in which none of them were seat belted.  All the occupants were intoxicated, as each person was in possession of their own alcoholic beverage.  The driver was placed under arrest and his evidentiary breath test showed his alcohol level was .28% BrAC.  The driver received 11 payable citations totaling $2,496 and 3 Must Appear Citations.

I’m highlighting this incident for several reasons: time of day, holiday week, no seat belt usage, within construction zone, and lastly alcohol usage.
Please continue to stay safe!