350 Howard County Residents Heard Annual Safety Update

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More Than 350 Attend "Senior Week: Staying Safe in Ocean City"

Kudos to Ocean City Police Cpl. Howard Caplan and Ocean City Beach Patrol Sgt. James McVey for partnering with HC DrugFree to present invaluable information to more than 350 high school seniors and their parents/guardians and other adults about how to stay safe during Senior Week in Ocean City.

If you need to contact Corporal Howard Caplan at the Ocean City Police Department while your teen is away at Senior Week, you can reach him at 410-723-6610, 410-520-5299 (leave a voicemail), or by email at [email protected].

Baltimore Sun Article: Just Say No to Senior Week

In a recent Baltimore Sun article, according to Urban Dictionary, the online source for anyone who isn't clear on the latest lingo, beach week is "More of an east-coast tradition in which freshly graduated seniors travel to the beach to get belligerently hammered, hook up with chicks, and sun bathe."

The article goes on to say that informed parents understand the intent of beach week and exercise reasonable judgment by saying no to sending their kids into an environment that cultivates intense and unsafe partying. Click here to read the Baltimore Sun article, including sobering facts from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) that parents need to share with their kids before allowing them to go to beach week.

Don't think jaywalking in Ocean City is a big deal?

Throughout the past 7 years, more than 260 people have been struck while trying to cross Coastal Highway, the main street through Ocean City, and other streets in Ocean City. Watch the short video created by the Maryland State Highway Administration, and click on the image on the right to see a video that was created by high school students for the Ocean City Police Department. Still don't think jaywalking is a big deal? Even if you make it across the street without getting hit by a vehicle, you could get hit with a $50 jaywalking fine! Play it safe and use the crosswalks.

Most common fines issued by Ocean City police during Senior Weeks:

Jaywalking - $50
Sleeping in your car - $25
Seatbelt not used - $83
Loud music - $70
Leaving your car engine running - $70 + 1 point
Unnecessary/inappropriate use of horn - $70
Failure to move over for emergency vehicle - $110 + 1 point

Ocean City Police calls increase each June during Senior Weeks:

Type of Call	April, 2014 (before Senior Weeks)	June, 2014 (during Senior Weeks)
Police-Generated Calls	2,500	11,980
Citizen-Generated Calls	918	4,211
Arrests	79	875
Drug Arrests	15	300
Weapons Violation Arrests	5	79
DUI	18	92

"Play It Safe" Calendar of Events

Click here to see the fun, free events for 2015 high school graduates in Ocean City. Please note that this year it will cost $5 to ride the Ocean City bus all week. For more information, go to www.playitsafeoceancity.com.

Parents: Don't Forget to Enter After-Prom Drawing!

If your child will attend a Howard County Public School PTSA-sponsored After-Prom, go to www.hcdrugfree.org before midnight on Sunday, May 31 and enter for a chance to win a $100 gift card !

Permanent Medication Disposal Boxes

Howard County residents can drop off unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications at 3 locations in the County where permanent disposal boxes have been installed. Boxes are located at the Howard County Police Northern District Station (3410 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City), the Howard County Police Southern District Station (11226 Scaggsville Road, Laurel), and the Gary Arthur Community Center (2400 Route 97, Cooksville). The boxes are accessible during normal business hours at these locations.

Coming soon: HC DrugFree has partnered with the Howard County Police Department to provide additional permanent medication disposal boxes in the County...Stay tuned for more details.

For more information, contact

Joan Webb Scornaienchi, Executive Director

HC DrugFree

Wilde Lake Village Center

5305 Village Center Drive, Suite 206

Columbia, MD 21044

443-325-0040

[email protected]

www.hcdrugfree.org