State, County Police Combat Drag Racing On Md. Highways
PIKESVILLE, Md. (WJZ) -- Police in Maryland are hoping a targeted effort will help deter drag racing on two Maryland interstates.
Maryland State Police and Baltimore County police officers joined forces to combat illegal street racing over the weekend along I-70 and I-695, arresting multiple drivers and citing dozens of others.
Videos online show illegal street racing throughout Maryland that's constantly putting lives on the line.
"Crashing at those speeds, you're not walking away from it in real life," said Maryland State Police Sgt. Davaughn Parker.
Both Maryland State Police and Baltimore County Police teamed up, honing in on the area of I-70 and 695, shutting down two illegal races. They say one race had about 50 to 60 people there.
Multiple arrests were made and 97 citations, 33 warnings and 23 safety repair orders were dished out.
"We've been seeing large groups shut down interstates, even intersections. It's been an ongoing battle," Parker said.
WJZ spotted the burnt out tire marks on a stretch of I-70, an obvious sign of where these illegal races are taking place.
Even though barriers have been put up over the years, it hasn't been enough to deter the crime.
"Once they feel as though that we have infiltrated one, or found out one area, they start migrating to another area," Parker said.
In 2008, tragedy struck along Route 210 in Prince George's County where a car slammed into a crowd killing eight people.
A year later at the same problem spot on I-70, a couple died when they were hit by a drunk driver while watching the race.
"Illegal street racing is dangerous. There's a high possibility that you can lose your life and if not lose your life, you can accrue a lot of points on your driver's license," Parker said.
Authorities are now cracking down harder than ever.
"It's a great thing for allied agencies to come together and work at the one thing we have in common and that's saving lives. Just know that Maryland State Police and Baltimore County Police Department, we're going to be on patrol," Parker said.
Police aren't going into full detail about their new efforts but say they were able to get a step ahead of these races over the weekend.
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