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 obey the law in High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) designated areas. HOV lanes are reserved for buses, and motorcycles during designated time periods. In areas where there is no time period posted, HOV is in affect 24 hours a day. HOV lanes are generally designated via white diamonds on signage and pavement markings. HOV lanes can be separated from other lanes by double white lines, or some form of physical barrier. Presently, there are about 100 HOV facilities nationwide, representing over 1,200 lane miles. There are also HOV lanes in Canada, and in a wide variety of locations abroad. HOV lanes play an integral part in helping metropolitan areas address the needs they have identified for mobility, safety, productivity, environmental stewardship, and quality of life. The State of Maryland has two HOV facilities, along I-270 in Montgomery County and along US 50 in Prince George’s County. The HOV lanes are HOV 2+, meaning two or more people must occupy the vehicle. An occupant is any person who occupies one seat in the vehicle (i.e. pregnant mothers count as one occupant, and an infant in an infant seat counts as one occupant). Motorcycles and emergency vehicles (during an emergency) are allowed to use the HOV lanes without being subject to HOV lane occupancy restrictions. Additionally, plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are also eligible. However, a Maryland vehicle registration and a permit obtained from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) are required. PEVs and PHEVs registered in Virginia are not permitted to drive solo in Maryland HOV lanes. PEVs, PHEVs, and other hybrid vehicles registered in Maryland are not permitted to drive solo in Virginia HOV/HOT lanes. For motorists with any of these types of vehicles to use Virginia’s HOV/HOT lanes, the vehicles must be registered in Virginia and have Virginia clean special fuel license plates. The HOV lanes were designed as concurrent flow, meaning they are not physically separated from the general use lanes. Motorists should not weave in and out of the HOV lanes. Furthermore, crossing the solid lines separating the HOV lane from other lanes is also a violation of Maryland law.
The Maryland State Police and local law enforcement handle enforcement of the HOV lanes. A violation of the HOV lane carries a $90 fine and one point against a driver’s license for first-time offenders and for each subsequent offense. Additionally, if the driver’s violation of the HOV designation leads to a crash, the driver will be subject to three points.
The Maryland State Police is committed to the enforcement of HOV violators and special initiatives have been scheduled to ticket those drivers violating the law. We strongly urge everyone to be responsible and obey the laws of the road. Our family’s lives depend on it.
(Source: State Highway Administration)
Reporting period 5/25/20-5/31/20
Vehicle collisions that required a report: 25
Vehicle collisions that did not require a report: 16
Community policing activity: 1
Disabled/unattended vehicles: 14
DUI arrests: 14
Miscellaneous: 33
Premise checks: 70
Probable cause searches for drugs: 1
Traffic stops: 400
Vehicle storages: 1
Criminal/civil investigations: 17 (Drugs, Theft, Assault, etc.)
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
Our message this week is obey the law in High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) designated areas. HOV lanes are reserved for buses, and motorcycles during designated time periods. In areas where there is no time period posted, HOV is in affect 24 hours a day. HOV lanes are generally designated via white diamonds on signage and pavement markings. HOV lanes can be separated from other lanes by double white lines, or some form of physical barrier. Presently, there are about 100 HOV facilities nationwide, representing over 1,200 lane miles. There are also HOV lanes in Canada, and in a wide variety of locations abroad. HOV lanes play an integral part in helping metropolitan areas address the needs they have identified for mobility, safety, productivity, environmental stewardship, and quality of life. The State of Maryland has two HOV facilities, along I-270 in Montgomery County and along US 50 in Prince George’s County. The HOV lanes are HOV 2+, meaning two or more people must occupy the vehicle. An occupant is any person who occupies one seat in the vehicle (i.e. pregnant mothers count as one occupant, and an infant in an infant seat counts as one occupant). Motorcycles and emergency vehicles (during an emergency) are allowed to use the HOV lanes without being subject to HOV lane occupancy restrictions. Additionally, plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are also eligible. However, a Maryland vehicle registration and a permit obtained from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) are required. PEVs and PHEVs registered in Virginia are not permitted to drive solo in Maryland HOV lanes. PEVs, PHEVs, and other hybrid vehicles registered in Maryland are not permitted to drive solo in Virginia HOV/HOT lanes. For motorists with any of these types of vehicles to use Virginia’s HOV/HOT lanes, the vehicles must be registered in Virginia and have Virginia clean special fuel license plates. The HOV lanes were designed as concurrent flow, meaning they are not physically separated from the general use lanes. Motorists should not weave in and out of the HOV lanes. Furthermore, crossing the solid lines separating the HOV lane from other lanes is also a violation of Maryland law.
The Maryland State Police and local law enforcement handle enforcement of the HOV lanes. A violation of the HOV lane carries a $90 fine and one point against a driver’s license for first-time offenders and for each subsequent offense. Additionally, if the driver’s violation of the HOV designation leads to a crash, the driver will be subject to three points.
The Maryland State Police is committed to the enforcement of HOV violators and special initiatives have been scheduled to ticket those drivers violating the law. We strongly urge everyone to be responsible and obey the laws of the road. Our family’s lives depend on it.
(Source: State Highway Administration)
Reporting period 5/25/20-5/31/20
Vehicle collisions that required a report: 25
Vehicle collisions that did not require a report: 16
Community policing activity: 1
Disabled/unattended vehicles: 14
DUI arrests: 14
Miscellaneous: 33
Premise checks: 70
Probable cause searches for drugs: 1
Traffic stops: 400
Vehicle storages: 1
Criminal/civil investigations: 17 (Drugs, Theft, Assault, etc.)
Below is a list of individuals that were arrested in this time period:
Date/Time: Last name: First name: Charge:
| 05/25/2020 1012 | Watkins | John | DUI |
| 05/25/2020 1636 | McLean | Kevin | CDS: POSSESSION-MARIJUANA 10 GM+ |
| 05/25/2020 1742 | Mateo Villafuerte | Byron | DUI |
| 05/25/2020 2131 | Argueta | Silvio | DUI |
| 05/26/2020 0244 | TILLMAN | DAVID | DUI |
| 05/27/2020 0504 | Commock | Brian | DUI |
| 05/29/2020 0218 | Mobitang | Patrice | DUI |
| 05/29/2020 1238 | Alvarado-Lopez | Melvin | DUI |
| 05/29/2020 2148 | Ayala | Jose | DUI |
| 05/30/2020 0058 | Denton | Michelle | DUI |
| 05/30/2020 0124 | Perez Bonilla | Anderson | DUI |
| 05/30/2020 0125 | Cadogan | Brian | DUI |
| 05/30/2020 0402 | Boynes | Aisha | DUI |
| 05/30/2020 0638 | Milla Santiago | Jose | DUI |
| 05/30/2020 1626 | Ruiz | Edras | WARRANT |
| 05/31/2020 0018 | MAYO | GARY | DUI |
CONTACT: D/Sgt. Pietanza, Maryland State Police, College Park Barrack, (301)345-3101