The Maryland State Police, College Park Barrack, Calls For Service/Arrest: 2/10/20-2/16/20

This press release is designed to inform the public of our commitment to ensuring safety and enforcing the laws in Maryland.

Our message this week is prepare for the winter.  When the chilly temperatures of winter set in, will your vehicle be ready for the cold?  If you live in a part of the country that gets snow and ice, are you prepared to drive in those conditions? Planning and preventative maintenance are important year-round—but especially when it comes to winter driving.

Get Your Car Serviced

No one wants their car to break down in any season, but especially not in cold or snowy winter weather. Start the season off right by ensuring your vehicle is in optimal condition.

• Visit your mechanic for a tune-up and other routine maintenance.
• Have your vehicle checked thoroughly for leaks, badly worn hoses, or other needed parts, repairs, and replacements.

Check for Recalls

• Owners may not always know that their vehicle is under an open recall and needs to be repaired. NHTSA’s Recalls Look-up Tool lets you enter a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to quickly learn if your vehicle or one you are looking to purchase has a critical safety issue that has not been repaired. Check for recalls on your vehicle by searching now: nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your vehicle is under a recall, get it fixed at your nearest dealer FOR FREE.

Know Your Car

Every vehicle handles differently; this is particularly true when driving on wet, icy, or snowy roads. Take time now to learn how your vehicle handles under winter weather driving conditions.

• Before driving your vehicle, clean snow, ice or dirt from the windows, the forward sensors, headlights, tail lights, backup camera and other sensors around the vehicle.
• When your area gets snow, practice driving on snow-covered or icy roads—but not on a main road. Sharpen your winter weather driving skills and know how your vehicle handles in snowy conditions by practicing in an empty parking lot. See your vehicle’s manual to familiarize yourself with the features on your vehicle—such as antilock brakes and electronic stability control—and how the features perform in slippery conditions. For example, your vehicle or pedals may pulsate when controlling traction.
• For electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, minimize the drain on the battery. If the vehicle has a thermal heating pack for the battery, plug your vehicle in whenever it’s not in use. Preheat the passenger compartment before you unplug your vehicle in the morning.
• When renting a car, become familiar with the vehicle before driving it off the lot. Know the location of the hazard lights switch in case of emergency, and review the owner’s manual so that you’re prepared for any driving situation that may arise.

Stock Your Vehicle

Carry items in your vehicle to handle common winter driving-related tasks, such as cleaning off your windshield, as well as any supplies you might need in an emergency. Keep the following in your vehicle:

• Snow shovel, broom, and ice scraper.
• Abrasive material such as sand or kitty litter, in case your vehicle gets stuck in the snow.
• Jumper cables, flashlight, and warning devices such as flares and emergency markers.
• Blankets for protection from the cold.
• A cell phone with charger, water, food, and any necessary medicine (for longer trips or when driving in lightly populated areas).

Plan Your Travel and Route

Keep yourself and others safe by planning ahead before you venture out into bad weather.

• Check the weather, road conditions, and traffic.
• Don’t rush; allow plenty of time to get to your destination safely. Plan to leave early if necessary.
• Familiarize yourself with directions and maps before you go, even if you use a GPS system, and let others know your route and anticipated arrival time.

Tires

• If you plan to use snow tires, have them installed in the fall so you are prepared before it snows. Check out nhtsa.gov/tires for tire ratings before buying new ones and look for winter tires with the snowflake symbol.
• Regardless of season, inspect your tires at least once a month and before long road trips. It only takes about five minutes. If you find yourself driving under less-than-optimal road conditions this winter, you’ll be glad you took the time. Don’t forget to check your spare tire.
• As the outside temperature drops, so does tire inflation pressure. Make sure each tire is filled to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure, which is listed in your owner’s manual and on a placard located on the driver’s side door frame. The correct pressure is NOT the number listed on the tire. Be sure to check tires when they are cold, which means the car hasn’t been driven for at least 3 hours.
• Look closely at your tread and replace tires that have uneven wear or insufficient tread. Tread should be at least 2/32 of an inch or greater on all tires.
• Check the age of each tire. Some vehicle manufacturers recommend that tires be replaced every six years regardless of use, but check your owner’s manual to find out.
• For more information on tire safety, visit NHTSA’s Tires page.

These are just a few helpful tips but very important.  Please be diligent this winter and ensure your vehicle is squared away.  Our family’s lives depend on it.

Reporting period 2/10/20-2/16/20

Vehicle collisions that required a report: 33

Vehicle collisions that did not require a report: 40

Community policing activity: 4

Disabled/unattended vehicles: 17

DUI arrests: 12

Miscellaneous: 34

Premise checks: 40

Probable cause searches for drugs: 4

Traffic stops: 293

Vehicle storages: 0

Criminal/civil investigations: 15 (Drugs, Theft, Assault, Domestic Violence, Warrants)

Below is a list of individuals that were arrested in this time period:

Date/Time:      Last name:        First name:     Charge:

CONTACT: D/Sgt. Pietanza, Maryland State Police, College Park Barrack, (301)345-3101

Source: Maryland MVA