Police Remind Maryland Wine Festival Goers to Drink Safely

Carroll County Sheriff's Deputies will be keeping an eye on Maryland Wine Festival goers this weekend (Sept. 17-18) as they work to prevent drinking and driving.

More than 25,000 patrons are expected to visit the two day event hosted on the grounds of the Carroll County Farm Museum. 

While traffic patterns on all roads leading to the festival will remain unchanged, uniformed law enforcement personnel will be controlling the direction of outbound travel from several exits to reduce the hazards and delays created by congestion along the following routes, according to statement from the Sheriff's Department.

Be aware of the following traffic patterns:

• Center Street at main gate: Outbound vehicles exiting from the main gate will only be permitted to turn left onto northbound Center Street.

• Center Street south of the main gate: Outbound vehicles exiting Gate C will turn right only onto southbound Center Street to Gist Road.

• Center Street & Gist Road: Outbound vehicles will be directed to Route 32 by either turning left or proceeding straight at this intersection; no right turns onto Gist Road will be permitted.

• Gist Road & AG Center Road at the AG Center lot entrance: All traffic exiting AG Center Road will turn right onto Gist Road to Kate Wagner Road and then turn right to Route 27 or left to Route 32.

• Gist Road & Smith Avenue: Outbound vehicles will continue south on Gist Road to Kate Wagner Road.

Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Carroll County Health Department, Westminster and Maryland State Police to deliver the message: “Don’t Hesitate to Designate.”

In a statement, police remind festival goers that .08 is the legal limit for driving while impaired in Maryland.

Drinkers are encouraged to designate a sober driver ahead of time. To support this initiative, four local agencies (Carroll County Health Department Bureau of Addiction Treatment Services, The Mid Western Region Traffic Safety Program and The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County, Inc.,) will fund and staff a volunteer designated driver water booth. 

Designated Driver tickets may be purchased for a discount off of regular admission; no wine glass and no samples are included. Upon visiting the booth, (located near the band stage) designed drivers with a designated driver ticket will receive free bottled water.