Impaired Driving to Spike This Fourth of July Weekend and MD State Police Are Ready

This year, Independence Day falls on the last day of a long weekend.  This has Maryland State Police predicting a sharp increase in the number of impaired drivers on the road this Fourth of July weekend, which is already one of the most traveled weekends of the summer.  The SPIDRE program, which stands for State Police Impaired Driving Effort, will be targeting drunk drivers at strategic locations based on prior DUI arrests and crash data.  Jim Ports, Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation indicated in a press release that "the SPIDRE team and other police agencies will be out in full force over the holiday weekend, which has the potential to be a deadly weekend."

The National Safety Council has estimated that at least 460 fatalities nationwide could occur as a result of impaired driving this Fourth of July Weekend.  This is the highest prediction in the last eight years.  Lt. Col. Anthony Satchell of the Maryland State Police Field Operations Division has remarked that "Drunk driving can be avoided by making alternate plans."  Be sure to plan ahead this holiday weekend, and if you're on the road, keep an eye out for drunk drivers.

Uber Could Soon Be Operating in Ocean City, MD

Currently, Uber and Lyft, and other companies like them, are not in Ocean City, Maryland.  Last month, advertisements appeared online seeking Uber drivers in the area.  Ocean City officials say “Uber is welcome, but at this early stage in the game, the consensus seems to be that Uber drivers are going to have to play by the same rules as taxi drivers.”

For obvious reasons, taxi drivers are not happy about the thought of Uber drivers entering the market in Ocean City.  Uber has quickly gained popularity throughout the United States and other parts of the world because of the “on-demand” and ease of payments aspects of the service.

Uber and Lyft representatives are saying neither company has plans to launch in Ocean City.  However, an Uber representative did say the company will place advertisements in a city to test the “viability of a market.”

Aside from the Ocean City market, the state of Maryland as a whole has been in a legal battle with Uber for a few years.  In fact, Uber operated unregulated in Maryland for two years.  Uber has argued it is not a transportation company, but is a technology company offering a “driving service.”  But just a few weeks ago, Uber agreed to a five year deal with the Maryland Public Service Commission.  The agreement included regulation as a motor carrier, drivers with proper commission permits, and providing a list of these drivers to the commission.  Most importantly, UberX, the most popular Uber service, is not part of the agreement, just UberSUV and UberBlack are regulated. 

The Ocean City market, especially during peak season in the summer months, is prime for Uber and Lyft to enter the market.  During the busy months, a large percentage of the visitors are teenagers who are already familiar with these companies and would benefit the most from them in terms of safety.  It would help cut down on drunk driving and resulting deaths because people are more likely to use Uber than a taxi because of the ease of use.

So as Uber’s status in Maryland continues to change, Ocean City officials are in a holding pattern and not planning on making any decisions at this time.  Because peak season is so short in Ocean City and the large number of taxis already in the city, officials are also unsure whether it would even be profitable for Uber drivers.

If you or a family member has been charged with a DUI or DWI in Maryland and would like a free consultation or if you would like more information drunk driving in Maryland please feel free to contact our office at (301) 854-9000 or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Criminal-Defense/DWI-DUI/