Who Patrols I 95/Mchenry Tunnel in Baltimore?

[dic]

Who are the LUNATICS that patrol I 95 around the Mchenry Tunnel?

I was driving north up I 95 last night, in moderate traffic, around 6.30 pm.
I was in the passing lane going about 65mph, moving along with traffic and my radar detector statred going off. I slowed a bit and turned a blind corner and in there was a Black Charger completely blacked out in the outside (passing lane) breakdown lane. There honestly couldn't have been two feet between his right side and the cars passing him.

As I passed him he turned on ALL his lights, they were so bright my eyes whited out for a second or two, and then he was about six inches from my rear bumper. There was traffic to my right so I couldn't pull out of his way. I sped up and got out of his way into the travel lane. This all took about 5 seconds. I guess he wasn't in too much of a hurry because he had time to slow down and ride next to me for ten seconds and try to stare me down. I didn't even look over. He stomped on it and FLEW ahead. (DAMN those cars are fast).

I looked ahead at the light show and noticed him pulling someone over across ALL 4 lanes of traffic. He had 4 lanes of traffic braking as he pulled this car over.
I slowed a bit and moved to the side to see what department it was and noticed that the BMW he pulled over had a headlight out.

WOW! All that for a headlight out.

I question the judgement and behavior of whatever Department that was.

If there are accidents on that stretch of road, I wonder how many are CAUSED by the police?

Dic

 

[Lostfantum]

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police patrol that section of highway.

 

[maus92]

And uses Dodge Chargers... and uses the left shoulder for traffic stops and radar traps. A most unsafe practice by any measure.

 

[dic]

Clarence you are correct.
Maus, it was the most amateruish display of driving and law enforcement I have EVER seen.
WHO ARE THEY?

I went to one of the police car websites and searched for the MD TA police and found the Charger I saw.

I also saw photos of marked and unmarked Z 28s, marked and unmarked Mustangs.

Maybe I am missing something here:

How much highway do they patrol, and why do they need more horsepower than ANY state police force I have ever seen?

Where do they get their funding?
Let me guess: Department of Homeland Security because they are a "Port Authority".

Dic

 

[Metro174]

The majority of their money actually comes from tolls with a large portion also coming from drug forfeitures. Since 9/11, a fair amount comes from DHS. They mainly patrol I-95 in Central Maryland but all of I-95 as well as I-895, I-395, portions of 301, I-695 and US 40 are also theirs.

 

[maus92]

The MdTA Police is essentially a highway patrol police force, but it also provides security for sensitive infrastructure - like tunnels and bridges. I don't have a problem with their use of high performance vehicles, but I have a huge problem with unsafe policies and behavior. I don't think it is fair to paint an entire department by the actions of a few officers - there always seems to be a bad apple in any organization - but hopefully the MdTA Police have a mechanism to deal with overly aggressive officers, and conduct periodic safety reviews of their policies .

 

[KC1UA]

Maybe I am missing something here:

Maybe you are...such as the headlight was just a coincidence and the driver of the vehicle was wanted for something far more serious.

I would hope that was the case, although it really doesn't condone unsafe driving by LE officers. That's why they have a radio system, to call ahead and get a wanted driver boxed in safely for them, the driver, and the general public. Unfortunately in the heat of the moment sometimes thoughts come from the heart and not from the head. Hopefully this doesn't happen too often...

On a side note, thanks for the info. I'm driving to FL in a few weeks and didn't have this agency in the scanlist.

 

[Gilligan]

I went to one of the police car websites and searched for the MD TA police and found the Charger I saw.

I also saw photos of marked and unmarked Z 28s, marked and unmarked Mustangs.

Can you post the website? Or the pictures' links?

 

[dic]

Since I had never heard or seen that department in 13 years of driving to and from Florida, thanks for all the info. I had NO idea they patrolled so many miles of highway.

Maus, I would not paint an entire department's actions due to one officer, but at rush hour on a Friday, in a new Charger, with POLICE in one foot letters on the side of the car, his actions speak for themselves.

Actually Scott, I turned around at the next exit (about a mile or so north) to go back to see which department it was. By the time I passed the traffic stop going south both cars were gone. So I presume after all that, and a stop that lasted less than 5 minutes, that the BMW got a verbal warning.

Also, Scott, if you are driving TO Florida soon, I just returned FROM Florida to Swampscott (via I 95)
I had the scanner on the entire ride home and have a complete record of the entire trip.
If you have any questions, please let me know.

Gilligan: http://policecarsite.atspace.com/main.html


Thanks again
Dic

 

[Lostfantum]

They also have 4 door Chevy Silverado pickup trucks and Ford Explorer SUV's. You never know what they will be driving at any given moment, they also have other unmarked units.

 

[maus92]

Look out for a red Mustang on the shoulders of I-95 and I-895....

 

[EyeSpy]

I have been traveling this route for about 8 years - Bel Air to Columbia... They have a TON of different vehicles... Explorers, Expedition, GTO, Mustang, Camaro (Silver LS1 - 2002?) and the marked cars - Crown Vic, Charger, etc... They also have (had, as I have not seen it in a few months) a blue Mustang and a silver one... yes the pick-up's... It alsways seems there is a new one that pop's up on my drives every now and then... And the new light systems (LED style) and very bright...

 

[SM166]

what freq do they use

 

[TinEar]

what freq do they use

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&aid=606

 

[Spleen]

MdTA Police just got a new chief, dic, I'm thinking this might be a perfect time to start at least an email relationship with the brass over there...

http://www.mdta.state.md.us/mdta/servlet/dispatchServlet?url=/News/newsDisplayIndex.jsp

 

[dtscho]

Anyone know what they use for the Harbor Tunnel? That one doesn't seem to be listed on that page.

It's nice listening to them when we're going through the Ft. McHenry Tunnel--about the only thing one can hear in the tunnel.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[ocguard]

Anyone know what they use for the Harbor Tunnel? That one doesn't seem to be listed on that page.

It's nice listening to them when we're going through the Ft. McHenry Tunnel--about the only thing one can hear in the tunnel.

Thanks,
Dave

The Harbor Tunnel patrols use the same frequency as the Key Bridge patrols.

 

[suzukirider]

maybe they have such fast vehicles because they patrol such a small piece of real estate...better for them the be fast enough to grab you before you're out of their area.

and yes i am aware that there is overlap in jurisdictions and probably "fresh pursuit" applies.

abe

 

[Metro174]

The Harbor Tunnel patrols use the same frequency as the Key Bridge patrols.

Both tunnels are on the same frequency. FSK and Port also share a frequency.

 

[dtscho]

OK, I'm confused. ocguard seems to be saying Harbor Tunnel is on same freq as Key Bridge. Metro174 seems to be saying Harbor Tunnel is on same freq as Ft. McHenry Tunnel. Who's right?

Thanks,
Dave