Monday, June 10, 2013
A federal grant has enabled state police in Massachusetts to implement specialized enforcement in June.
Texting while driving has been illegal in Massachusetts since 2010, but police around the country have said the law is difficult to enforce. Forty percent of Massachusetts drivers say they still text while driving despite a nearly three-year-old law banning such activity and preventing any cell phone use for drivers under 18 years old, according to a poll conducted by Plymouth Rock Assurance. With the help of a federal grant, Massachusetts State Police will begin a statewide crackdown on the illegal and dangerous practice in June. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has awarded the state a $275,000 federal grant to increase enforcement of the Safe Driving Law, which bans the sending, typing or reading of electronic …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
A Belmont man is facing OUI and drug charges following his March 25 arrest in Lexington after he was spotted operating erratically in Burlington.
State Police arrested a Belmont man for operating under the influence of drugs last night following a short pursuit on Route 128 in Lexington. The incident began around 8:25 p.m. on Monday, March 25, when troopers assigned to the Concord Barracks received several reports of a red BMW operating erratically on Rte. 128/95 in Burlington, according to a Massachusetts State Police press release. Several troopers responded to the area to search for the vehicle, which was reportedly continuously striking the guardrail as it traveled northbound. The vehicle exited the highway and looped back onto Rte. 128/95 south, where Trooper Zachary Bolcome located it in Lexington, according to MSP. Following a brief pursuit, the BMW finally stopped in the …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Burlington could see more than 18 inches by Saturday afternoon. Storm to start before Friday commute.
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Watch for Burlington and surrounding areas from Friday night through Saturday morning. According to the watch, "The worst of the storm will be Friday night into Saturday morning," with snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour possible. "Travel may become nearly impossible with blowing and drifting snow." Several news outlets can agree that Winter Storm Nemo will bring a minimum accumulation of 18 inches to the area, but the maximum accumulation numbers vary. Because the storm will hit during the Friday evening commute, we are re-featuring some driving tips from the Massachusetts State Police. Also, stay with Burlington Patch for all local updates on the storm, any reported damage and other…
Monday, December 17, 2012
Find out where to bring your Toys for Tots donations in Burlington.
The Massachusetts State Police is reminding everyone that the dealine for donations for the annual Toys-4-Tots drive is today Monday, December 17. Donations of unwrapped, new, non-violent themed toys can be delivered to any State Police Barracks or any of the locations below and dropped into the donation box. Any monetary donations should be in the form of a check made out to “Toys-4-Tots”. The age group that is most needed is age 0-2 and 11-14 years-old. Here's a look at the drop-off locations in Burlington:
Friday, November 30, 2012
The use of such electronic devices can be hazardous while operating a vehicle, State Police said this week.
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Friday, November 30, 2012
Editor's Note: The following message was submitted to Patch by the Massachusetts State Police. The Massachusetts State Police, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation, have begun a public awareness message on the use of personal headphones, or “ear buds,” while driving a motor vehicle. The constant need for instant communication has helped pioneer a host of advanced cell phone technology and has become an integral part of our lives. Unfortunately, this has added to the many distractions that hinder safe operation of motor vehicles. Hands-free technology, including personal headphones, have helped eliminate the constant need to hold a cell phone while driving. But some operators have begun to use their headsets to listen to …
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Find out where to bring your Toys for Tots donations in Burlington.
The Toys for Tots annual drive is underway and there are several locations close by to drop your toys off. Bring new, unwrapped toys to the drop-off locations. Every year for the past 28 years, the Mass. State Police has worked with the Marines to collect toys for needy children by using State Police Barracks as drop off locations and assisting with toy drives throughout the state. The age group that is most needed is age 0-2 and 11-14 years-old. Here's a look at the drop-off locations in Burlington:
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
"There's nothing that I can compare to what I saw down there," said one of the 25 troopers that helped out after Sandy devastated nearby states.
Before Hurricane Sandy's full scope of devastation in New York and New Jersey was even known, 25 men and women from the Massachusetts State Police were on their way to assist those who had been displaced from their homes. "When I reached out to ask if the state police would be willing to field a group of 25 people, I already knew the answer," Undersecretary for Homeland Security and Director of MEMA, Kurt Schwartz said in a press conference in Framingham Monday afternoon. "The answer was a resounding yes." One of the troopers was Brian Dunn, who works out of the South Boston barracks. "There's nothing that I can compare to what I saw down there," said the 28-year veteran of the force. "We were there when they came home for the first time…
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Troopers from all over New England want to help local drivers stay safe and prevent crashes during the holiday season.
The holidays are upon us, and many residents will be traveling this week to see family and friends all across New England. State Police are doing their part to help ensure these visits don't end in tragedy because of impaired or distracted driving. The Massachusetts State Police joined forces with other New England State Police divisions at headquarters in Framingham to explain their C.A.R.E (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) program. Increased patrols this week will be cracking down on impaired/drunk driving, texting while driving and seatbelt law violations, among other things. "We aren't trying to discourage people from going out and enjoying themselves," Massachusetts State Police Col. Timothy P. Alben said. "We just want to make …
Monday, November 12, 2012
Preventing people from looting their neighbors' homes is part of the troopers' work in New Jersey.
New Jersey called; Massachusetts answered. The state of New Jersey asked for help with devastation in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, requesting that nearby states send law enforcement officers to help keep peace and order in the hardest-hit areas of New Jersey. On Saturday, a detachment of 25 troopers from the Massachusetts State Police was selected and sent, reporting to Fort Dix to be sworn in as police officers. The Massachusetts State Police officers are working with Louisiana State Police and New Jersey State Police in areas including Brick, Ocean Park, Seaside Heights and Palisades Park. Many of the MSP troopers are experienced with storm-related issues, especially after the destructive storms Massachusetts has experienced over the …
Friday, October 19, 2012
State police on the lookout for people drinking and driving.
The Massachusetts State Police will be conducting a motor vehicle sobriety checkpoint Friday, Oct. 19 into Saturday, Oct. 20, somewhere within Middlesex County, according to a state police press release. Police will be stopping vehicles to find potentially drunk drivers between somewhere in Middlesex County, which includes Burlington. As is normal practice, police do not disclose the hours or locations of the checkpoints. "The purpose is to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public’s awareness to the need of detecting and removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways," a State Police statement reads. "It will be operated during varied hours, the selection of vehicles …
J. Parker
2:30 pm on Monday, June 10, 2013
Eyes on the road. Hands on the wheel. Light foot on the excelerator make a safe driver. These handheld devices are a menace to society when they aren't used properly. It's about time that the law takes affect ! more ›