Increased MDTA police area patroled?

[hill]

Today when I was on the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) outter loop between US Route 40 and I-95 and there one of the MDTAP officers working speed enforcement with laser. The time of this was around 11 AM.

The Baltimore Beltway has always been patrolled by MSP and the Golden Ring Barrack is less than 2 miles from the location this officer was working

My main question is why are they operating farther from the toll areas than before? In the past they kind of stayed in their lane and only patrolled the areas near tolls facilities.

Going forward if they want to work other highways it's time for the State to disband the MDTAP and fold them into the MSP. That will strengthen the MSP and help with any shortages of Troopers they may have. This will help by cutting upper command staff in MDTAP.

 

[maus92]

MDTA "owns" I-95 from Baltimore to the Delaware line. MSP is contracted by the MDTA to provide police services along portions of that route, however perhaps this is changing. MDTA and MSP have incompatible contract, salary, and retirement programs thus are unlikely to merge.

 

[jkahn]

I have seen MDTA in he past on I95 North from the tunnels up to where the high speed lanes end, usually in the high speed toll lanes.
Maybe it was slow on the tunnel thru-ways and MDTA needed more revenue!

Do they use anything other than their FiRST talkgroups for comms?

 

[maus92]

Other than cell phones, they operate only on FIRST. Theoretically, they could operate natively on neighboring systems and tgs, but I've never heard them do that.

 

[Dispatcher308]

MDTA "owns" I-95 from Baltimore to the Delaware line. MSP is contracted by the MDTA to provide police services along portions of that route, however perhaps this is changing. MDTA and MSP have incompatible contract, salary, and retirement programs thus are unlikely to merge.

State Law may say they cant merge either! MDTA owns a lot of State roadways that people are unaware of, because they had a small force in the past they as you said in your post contracted other law enforcement agencies, now that their agency is expanding and growing, so are their responsibilities on their roadways.

 

[Chris52]

It’s a growing force, their numbers are going up and they are allowed and have been hiring more. More so lateral officers. You will see this in Charles County as well. They have moved up further and further on Rt. 301

 

[DIGITALCLUELESS]

Aren't they still confined to up to 15 miles off toll facilities properties(BWI, tunnels, bridges) if a concurrent jurisdiction agreement exists with local sheriffs? I think it started off for them to respond to valid emergency calls but has disintegrated into writing everything thing that moves to get the court overtime.

 

[maus92]

I believe there are different rules for each facility. For example, there is/was a letter agreement with Anne Arundel County Police to limit MDTAP enforcement to two miles west of the bay bridge, although I have seen MDTAP running radar traps close to the Severn River Bridge. On the east side of the bay bridge, they patrol to the 50/301 split in Queenstown. On I-95, they patrol the Baltimore City portion of the highway up to where the toll lanes end, although others have speculated that the MSP JFK Barrack *might* be giving up their exclusive contract to enforce from Perryville to the DE line.

 

[Dispatcher308]

I believe there are different rules for each facility. For example, there is/was a letter agreement with Anne Arundel County Police to limit MDTAP enforcement to two miles west of the bay bridge, although I have seen MDTAP running radar traps close to the Severn River Bridge. On the east side of the bay bridge, they patrol to the 50/301 split in Queenstown. On I-95, they patrol the Baltimore City portion of the highway up to where the toll lanes end, although others have speculated that the MSP JFK Barrack *might* be giving up their exclusive contract to enforce from Perryville to the DE line.

I don't know why AAPD would have any say over a tolled state road!!!

 

[maus92]

From AACPD Concurrent Jurisdiction Written Directive dated 7/7/2014:

"IX. MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY & AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
Whenever an individual officer of the Anne Arundel County Police Department, or the Maryland Transportation
Authority Police Department, while on official duty,

* Is traversing any highway road, street, or alley that intertwines, abuts, or is contiguous to any part where
the two jurisdictions meet;

or

* Is within one mile of the boundary of any property owned, operated, or controlled by the Maryland
Aviation Administration,

and observes or is informed that any crime is in progress or that an emergency exists in either jurisdiction, the
officer is authorized to act as a police officer in either jurisdiction.
“Emergency” includes but is not limited to an unruly person or group which demonstrates a potential for violence; a
hostage situation; a fire, flood, or accident; a fleeing suspect; or similar circumstance where prompt police action is
required, or more than one officer or specialized equipment is required."

Three questions arise: Where does the western boundary of the WPL Bridge facility begin? Is a radar trap near the Severn River Bridge contiguous to toll facility property? Does patrolling or operating a stationary post meet the definition of an emergency, a crime in progress, or traversing?

I cannot find my source, but two miles west of the base of the bridge is considered the boundary of the facility.