Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Using red light and speed cameras, targeted stings and other methods, police departments and municipalities hope to prevent pedestrian-related accidents, after a number of fatalities.
Pedestrian-related accidents have seen an unfortunate increase recently, particularly in Montgomery County. There have been 14 pedestrian accidents just this year, five of which resulted in fatalities. There was even one incident in Bethesda where a car struck an infant in a stroller being pushed across a crosswalk. “We, the parents of students attending Bethesda Elementary School, are horrified by the number of traffic accidents and near-accidents in and around downtown Bethesda,” said an online petition launched by Bethesda elementary school parents. “The safety of this walkable haven is at risk.” While there haven’t been as many pedestrian-related deaths in Prince George’s County this year, College Park officials recognize that …
Since 2011, 25 people in the two counties have died in pedestrian accidents. Here is more information on when and where each of these accidents occurred.
Related Content:
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Metro suspended rail service between Takoma and Forest Glen stations Tuesday evening.
Update Service is back to normal at the Silver Spring Metro station, Metro announced via Twitter at 10:40 p.m. Tuesday. Original post A fire on the tracks that sent billowing smoke over downtown Silver Spring forced the evacuation of the Silver Spring Metro station at the peak of Tuesday evening’s rush hour. No one was injured as firefighters brought the fire under a Red Line train under control quickly, said Assistant Chief Scott Graham, a spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. NBC4 video from the scene showed thick white smoke after the fire was extinguished. The fire was in electrical insulation and connectors on the tracks, Graham said. Red Line service was suspended between the Takoma and Forest Glen stations, …
Some Maryland jurisdictions were surprised by the large number of guns turned over to police.
- PUBLIC SAFETY
-
Tuesday, May 14
Marylanders by the dozens turned over unwanted firearms to police in the first statewide "Gun Turn-In Day," sponsored by Attorney General Doug Gansler. A total of 250 firearms were turned in, the attorney general's office announced Tuesday. The guns turned in are now unavailable to those who would misuse them, according to David Paulson, communications director. "If one life is saved or one serious injury is prevented in Maryland, this effort is entirely worth it," he added, citing what he said law enforcement officials had expressed to the attorney general's office. "We greatly appreciate the tremendous efforts of every local law enforcement agency and the Maryland State Police who participated," he said. The guns were turned in, with …
A statewide gun turn-in program included three drop-off locations in Montgomery County, police said.
More than 100 guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition were turned in at three police stations in Montgomery County as part of a statewide gun turn-in program during the weekend. Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler (D) said that he initiated the event in February during the legislative swirl of gun control bills, The Washington Post reported. A restrictive gun control package for the state was passed by the Maryland General Assembly in April. “This gives family members the opportunity to remove illegal and unwanted guns from the home that they fear would be used to harm themselves or others,” Gansler told the newspaper. Three drop-off locations collected the following weapons, according to police: Donations to the University of Maryland …
Blue Alert Act would create a national network to help catch violent criminals who injure or kill police officers, similar to the Amber Alert system.
U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin marked National Police Week with a visit to Rockville’s new police station Monday, where he touted a national law enforcement initiative called the Blue Alert Act of 2013. The Blue Alert Act would create a national network similar to the Amber Alert system to help catch violent criminals who injure or kill police officers. Maryland is already among 18 states to implement such a system. Gov. Martin O’Malley signed an executive order creating Maryland’s Blue Alert system shortly after the death of Maryland State trooper Wesley Brown. Brown was murdered outside a Forestville restaurant in June 2010. “We have no national coordination,” Cardin said. “We don't have a way to share best practices. What you're doing in …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Montgomery County Council meets most Tuesdays in Rockville.
Montgomery County Council members will begin to discuss how to spend revenue collected from an ambulance fund that took effect this January at its next meeting, planned for Tuesday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m. in Rockville. The fund is the result of a law passed in 2012 that allows the county to collect fees from the insurance companies of patients transported by emergency medical services (EMS). It was defeated in a 2010 voter referendum, Patch previously reported, but reintroduced and passed by the County Council. County Executive Isiah Leggett submitted a proposal to allocate 15 percent of the revenue to the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association, the group that runs local volunteer fire and rescue stations. If approved, about $2.…
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Authorities described the incident as a possible suicide.
Update 6:25 p.m.: WBAL reports that all lanes on northbound Interstate 95 have reopened. Update: 4:05 p.m.: One lane is getting by on the left shoulder of northbound Interstate 95 at Brooklyn Bridge Road in Laurel Sunday afternoon due to a Maryland State Police investigation, said Cpl. Robert L. Payne, a state police spokesman. No further information was immediately available. State police will have more information on their investigation later this afternoon, Payne said. Original post, 3:50 p.m.: Northbound Interstate 95 is closed at Brooklyn Bridge Road in Laurel while police investigate a possible suicide, Prince George’s County Fire/EMS spokesman Mark Brady said via Twitter. “PGFD & @HCDFRS handling a possible incident of suicide. A …
From crime - hear about the backhoe bandits? - to politics and new places for Mexican food, be well-informed with one click.
- GOVERNMENT
-
Sunday, May 12
By Patch Staff Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown Kicks Off Gubernatorial Bid In a speech highlighting his military and government service, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown announced in his home county of Prince George's Friday night that he is running for governor of Maryland in the November 2014 election. Dan Bongino’s Home Burglarized Wednesday Night While Family Slept A spokeswoman says computers, purses and a wallet were taken from the Severna Park home of Bongino, the former Secret Service agent who ran for U.S. Senate in 2012. Report: Anne Arundel County Top in State for Generating Tourism Money The county saw a more than 7 percent increase in money from tourism between 2010 and 2011, according to a new report. Businesses Look to Marketplace Fairness…
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Will Montgomery County police stings improve pedestrian safety?
Montgomery County residents took to the Montgomery County Police Department Facebook page to express their opinions about pedestrian enforcement stings that began Wednesday. From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, county police issued 72 citations for pedestrian safety infractions at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Turkey Branch Parkway in Aspen Hill, police said in a news release posted on the Facebook page. Lesli King Brown posted her wish for constant enforcement: "If only there was enough police enforcement available to to it all over the county all the time." The enforcement should go both ways, posted Wayne Lim of Silver Spring: "OK, all that sounded good. However how many pedestrians were ticketed for jay walking or running …
Costco Gas Man
3:06 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
According to the Md. DMV pedestrians are at fault 70% of the time. more ›