As the holiday season approaches, Montgomery County officials have opted to step up their efforts to prevent drunk driving accidents.

The Montgomery County Police Alcohol Holiday Task Force is comprised of officers from the Alcohol Initiatives section as well as patrol officers from six different police districts. The task force began its work on Nov. 15, 2015 and will continue their efforts through Jan. 9, 2016.

Some of the initiatives the task force will focus on include:

  • Enforcing traffic laws in areas where there is historically a higher number of alcohol-related accidents.
  • Undercover stings on businesses who may be selling alcohol to minors.
  • Using plain clothes officers to determine if businesses are serving alcohol to minors, as well as ensuring that minors are not using fake identification cards to buy alcohol.
  • Swift and strong responses to underage drinking parties.
  • Sobriety check points, specifically in areas where drivers are most at-risk of encountering impaired drivers.

Police are encouraging locals to call 911 to report a driver you believe may be impaired. Furthermore, you can also call Crime Solvers to report underage drinking parties and establishments that are selling alcohol to minors.

In Maryland, the number of traffic fatalities decreased between 2012 and 2013. Still, more than 450 lives were lost as a result of a driver under the influence. The holiday season is about spending time with loved ones, but never at the risk of injury or death as a result of impaired driving. Never get behind the wheel after drinking and always have a plan of action, such as taking a taxi home, if you decide to drink.

If you or anyone you love is injured this holiday season as a result of a careless, intoxicated driver. Contact a personal injury lawyer at Goldberg Finnegan for a free legal consultation.