During the holiday season – from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day – Howard County police will be working to ensure your safety on the roads; at shopping centers and malls; and in your neighborhoods. We’re also offering tips for how you can be safe this holiday season by being vigilant and using best practices when on the roads.
Here’s what police will be doing:
- Making increased checks at bars beginning the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to enforce underage drinking laws. Are you underage and plan to use a fake ID? Please stay home.
- Adding extra patrol cars on the roads looking specifically for impaired drivers, especially during the Thanksgiving holiday. Officers will also be looking for distracted driving, speeding and seat belt/child safety seat violations.
Here’s what you can do to stay safe on the roads:
- Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Please consider a designated driver at holiday get togethers or use a ride-sharing service.
- Be vigilant and slow down when driving in shopping centers with increased vehicle and foot traffic.
- Do not park in fire lanes in shopping centers, even for a short amount of time. It can delay emergency response and is dangerous for other drivers and pedestrians. Police will be ticketing violators.