MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD – Police in Montgomery County have been in the crosshairs of drunk and impaired drivers on the roadways over the past five weeks. Today, the MCPD announced four recent incidents involving impaired drivers crashing into police cruisers.
The department is reminding drivers of the state’s new ‘Move Over’ law that requires vehicles to change lanes when passing a police vehicle on the side of the road.
From October 1, 2022, Maryland’s Move Over Law requires drivers to make a lane change or slow down when approaching any stopped, standing, or parked car. They include hazard warning lights, road flares, or other caution signals like traffic cones, caution signs, or non-vehicular warning signs.
The Montgomery County Police Department reports:
On Sunday, November 13, 2022, at approximately 12:24 a.m., a Gaithersburg Police officer, assigned to the Holiday Task Force, was outside of his cruiser conducting a traffic stop in the area of northbound I-270 and Montgomery Village Ave., when his cruiser was side swiped by a red 2021 Ford Explorer. Following the collision, it was determined the driver of the Explorer was under the influence.
On Sunday, November 20, 2022, at approximately 1:38 a.m., a Maryland State Police Trooper, assigned to the Holiday Task Force, was initiating a traffic stop, in the area of northbound I-270 and Middlebrook Rd., with all emergency lights and sirens activated, when his cruiser was sideswiped by a 2011 Nissan Maxima, in the travel lanes of the roadway. The officer attempted to stop the Nissan Maxima, but the driver did not immediately come to a stop. When the driver stopped a short distance later, it was determined that the driver was under the influence.
On Friday, November 23, 3022, at approximately 11:25 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle stopped at the intersection of New Hampshire Ave. and Lockwood Dr., despite having a green light. When the officer approached the vehicle, the driver was passed out at the wheel. The officer positioned his cruiser in front of the vehicle, to avoid the driver going into oncoming traffic. When the driver woke up and tried to drive off, they hit the officer’s marked police cruiser.
On Friday, December 9, 2022, at approximately 8:56 p.m., an officer was outside of their cruiser, on a call for service, on Gude Dr. at Taft St. The officer’s emergency lights were activated when the driver of a 1996 Geo 4S struck the back of the police cruiser. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody under the suspicion of being under the influence.