Delaware Natural Resources Police State Park officers arrested 48-year-old Donald R. Quill Jr. of Newark, Del. on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) and additional traffic violations Thursday evening after he drove his vehicle into the ocean on Cape Henlopen.

At approximately 7:20 p.m., on Sept. 8, officers responded to Cape Henlopen State Park’s Navy Beach following a report of a water rescue in progress. Witnesses called 911 after seeing a vehicle driven into the surf. Bystanders quickly entered the water and helped the driver from the vehicle and onto shore.

During the Natural Resources Police investigation, officers observed that Quill displayed signs of impairment. He was then transported to Rehoboth Police Department for further investigation, where he was charged with DUI, a misdemeanor, and inattentive driving and operating a motor vehicle on closed Delaware State Parks areas, both traffic violations.

Quill was video-arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $1,502 cash bond and issued a no-contact order with all Delaware State Parks.

Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a jury trial at which the State bears the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Captain John McDerby, john.mcderby@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

The Results are in for the July 2, 2021, Statewide Checkpoint Activation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Cynthia Cavett, Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov

High Visibility Enforcement Against Impaired Driving Scheduled for
March 11-21 in Maryland and Delaware Along US 13 and US 113

DOVER, DE (March 12, 2021) – This year St. Patrick’s Day may look a little different as Delaware continues to stress social distancing and COVID-19 precautions. But for those planning to celebrate with family and friends, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office, and local law enforcement want to make sure they stay safe by driving sober or making a plan for a sober ride home.

For the fourth year, more than 20 transportation and law enforcement agencies from Delaware and Maryland will conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints along the 145 miles of US 13 (Ocean Highway) and nearly 75 miles of US 113 (Worcester Highway) on the Delmarva Peninsula beginning Thursday, March 11, and continuing through Sunday, March 21. St. Patrick’s Day is Wednesday, March 17.

In Delaware, the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) will also partner with additional agencies statewide for this year’s high visibility enforcement focused along the US 13 corridor. Last year during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, a total of 102 arrests for impaired driving were made statewide in Delaware.

Coinciding with high-visibility enforcement efforts, Delaware’s Office of Highway Safety will share the Be Driven Not to Drive campaign through a variety of platforms throughout the state including billboards, English and Spanish print media, social media platforms, music streaming services, and television/online streaming services. The campaign combines visible tactics with a publicity strategy to educate the public and promote safe driving behaviors in compliance with the law.

“Partnering with Maryland allows our efforts to be amplified as we combat impaired driving during this holiday period,” said Delaware OHS Deputy Director Richard Klepner. “OHS will partner with law enforcement throughout Delaware with increased visibility and presence on our roadways. There’s no excuse to drink and drive. Even one can be too many. Plan ahead to have a sober ride.”

In anticipation of the St. Patrick’s Day DUI enforcement and campaign initiatives, OHS has launched a first-of-its-kind digital tool called the Arrive Alive DE Visualizer DUI-Involved Crash Tool to share information with Delawareans and visitors on crash locations and educate website visitors to drive sober. Housed on the Arrive Alive DE website, this 5-year snapshot of DUI-involved crashes shows the concentration of crashes across the state through an interactive heat map.

In addition to the Arrive Alive DE Visualizer DUI-Involved Crash Tool, OHS has launched other versions of the digital tool for occupant protection and pedestrian safety. The Arrive Alive DE Visualizer is designed to educate drivers and pedestrians to help save lives in Delaware and Arrive Alive to their destination. Visit ArriveAliveDE.com to explore this digital tool and more on highway safety education in Delaware.

“Impaired driving is never the right choice so if you do plan to go out, be sure to plan ahead for a sober ride home,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative. “Every year, families lose loved ones to impaired driving crashes. It’s up to each of us to prevent these tragedies from occurring.”

In 2019, 535 people were killed on Maryland’s roadways and one-third of those deaths involved someone impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both. During last year’s enforcement effort, participating agencies issued 703 citations in Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester counties – including 205 for speeding – and made 18 arrests for impaired driving.

To coincide with the high visibility enforcement, the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office will also share Be the Make A Plan Driver and Be the Sober Driver messages on a variety of social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

Additional information on Maryland’s Be the Driver campaign can be found here.

More information on Delaware’s Be Driven Not to Drive campaign is available here.

About the Delaware Office of Highway Safety
The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public by focusing on behavioral traffic safety issues, such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and teen driving issues. Follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety on ArriveAliveDE.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

About the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office 

Learn more about the MDOT MVA’s Highway Safety Office at ZeroDeathsMD.gov or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @ZeroDeathsMD.

CONTACT:

Cynthia Cavett, Delaware Office of Highway Safety, Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov

Whitney Nichels, MDOT MVA, wnichels@mdot.maryland.gov

Office of Highway Safety brings Impaired Driving Awareness to the Centennial Celebration of the

Delaware State Fair

Dover, DE (July 22, 2019) – The Delaware Office of Highway Safety has partnered with NASCAR driver Ross Chastain for the fourth year in a row, in the “Use Your Melon, Drive Sober, Arrive Alive DE,” campaign and will be on-site at the Delaware State Fair during its centennial celebration year from Monday, July 22^nd from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, to Tuesday, July 23^rd from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. He’ll be engaging with fans to promote the “Use Your Melon,” campaign and be available for autographs and photo opportunities. The No. 4 Chevrolet Camaro Show Car will be on-site at the OHS booth during all 10 days of the Delaware State Fair. The OHS booth includes an interactive display including games, a selfie station, hero cards, and more. 

“As the Office of Highway Safety celebrates its 50th Anniversary, our staff is braving the extreme temperatures to bring the message of impaired driving dangers to Delaware State Fair attendees. Our focus is not only on the reduction of driving while intoxicated with alcohol but on helping Delawareans understand that driving while impaired also means driving under the influence of drugs including prescription or otherwise,” Christopher Klein, Acting Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

The Dover International Speedway is partnering on-site with the OHS at the fair and is giving away ticket vouchers for the Monster Energy Cup Series race on October 6^th, and ticket vouchers for the Xfinity Series race on October 5^th. The tickets will be distributed throughout the run of the fair through game participation and electronic surveys concerning impaired driving. Also, there is a special VIP grand prize package giveaway that will include tickets to the Sunday race, Meet & Greet with Ross, and a tour of the trailer/garage on Sunday. The Monster Mile is celebrating its 50^th Anniversary and will be hosting many special events throughout the weekend including live music, interactive displays, games, free sampling, and surprises.

“Ross and his team originally approached OHS with the melon campaign messaging based on his family’s farming legacy. He’s an 8^th-generation farmer and a 4^th-generation watermelon farmer. The “Use Your Melon,” campaign’s focus is on impaired driving and its dangers which can include alcohol, recreational drugs, and even prescription medications. In other words, “Use Your Melon,” when getting behind the wheel of a vehicle,” Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist, and Public Information Officer, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

Be on the lookout for over 1 million watermelons throughout the state of Delaware with the “Use Your Melon,” brand stickers on them, plus Carvertise-activated cars that are driving throughout the state through the end of October with the watermelon branding. The “Use Your Melon,” branded vehicles promote the same melon messaging that Ross is promoting for the Office of Highway Safety to hundreds of thousands of motorists, passengers, and pedestrians all summer long. 

This Highway Safety Collaboration in Motorsports in Delaware includes the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, Ross Chastain Racing, Dover International Speedway, JD Motorsports with Gary Keller, Melon 1, and Carvertise.

Frequently asked questions on the consequences of life after a DUI can be found at http://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober/FAQs.  For more information on Delaware DUI fatalities and arrests, visit http://www.arrivealivede.com/DriveSober.

You can follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety by clicking on:

Delaware Office of Highway Safety Web Site

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

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About the Delaware Office of Highway Safety
The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public by focusing on behavioral traffic safety issues such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and teen driving issues.

FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2019

Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist II and Public Information Officer (OHS)

Cynthia.Cavett@Delaware.Gov

Results of July 12^th Impaired Driving Checkpoints

Over 60 Law Enforcement Officers operated

July Checkpoint StrikeForce 

Dover, DE (July 19, 2019) – Three DUI checkpoints in all three counties were set up on July 12, 2019, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. as part of our Checkpoint StrikeForce mobilization. The Delaware Office of Highway Safety is pleased to report that the operation was successful.

The Office of Highway Safety had the opportunity to monitor operations in Kent and Sussex counties and observe positive officer interaction. “The Office of Highway Safety thanks the Delaware State Police and our local law enforcement partners for assisting during Operation Checkpoint StrikeForce and their unrelenting commitment to improving the safety of Delaware’s roadways,” – Christopher Klein, Acting Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

Frequently asked questions on the consequences of life after a DUI can be found at http://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober/FAQs.  For more information on Delaware DUI fatalities and arrests, visit http://www.arrivealivede.com/DriveSober.

You can follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety by clicking on:
Delaware Office of Highway Safety Web Site
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

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About the Delaware Office of Highway Safety
The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public by focusing on behavioral traffic safety issues such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and teen driving issues. FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com.