About Smooth Operator Program
- Overview
- History of the Smooth Operator Program
- Funding Partners
- Sponsoring Organizations
- Participating Agencies and Organizations
- Participating Law Enforcement Agencies
- Recognition Awards - Campaigns, Law Enforcement
Overview
Smooth Operator is a unique public safety initiative. It is a partnership of law enforcement, public safety officials and other experts in the District of Columbia and Maryland.Smooth Operator is a model for a coordinated, intra- and interstate program designed to combat the aggressive driving problem and find short- and long-term solutions for it. Law enforcement agencies, trauma experts, government officials and other professionals have worked together to educate motorists of the risks involved with aggressive driving, and to stigmatize aggressive driving behavior on our roads.
History of the Smooth Operator Program
In 1997, Smooth Operator was founded with 18 law enforcement agencies coordinating efforts to get tough on aggressive drivers in the greater Washington, DC area. It resulted in 62,000 citations that first year.Officials felt more was needed to raise awareness and change behavior. A coalition was formed of elected officials, government agencies, private sector organizations and law enforcement agencies to develop a comprehensive program for reducing aggressive driving. As a result, in 2000, a public awareness and education component was added to the program,which aimed to inform people about aggressive driving and encourage them to be more aware of their potential to drive aggressively, particularly in congested traffic or when they are stressed.
Smooth Operator has become a model program for the nation, and it's growing every year. The 2010 campaign involved law enforcement agencies from all around Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. It gave out more than 510,000 citations over the four periods of enforcement waves.
Since 1997, over 3.6 million citations have been issued to aggressive drivers.
Funding Partners
- District of Columbia, District Department of Transportation
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
- Maryland Department of Transportation's
- State Highway Administration's Safety Office
- Maryland's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Sponsoring Organizations
- District of Columbia
- District of Columbia, District Department of Transportation
- Maryland Department of Transportation's
- Motor Vehicle Administration
- State Highway Administration's Safety Office
Participating Agencies and Organizations
- AAA Mid-Atlantic
- Federal Highway Administration
- Maryland Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Maryland Department of Transportation
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Participating Law Enforcement Agencies
2011 Law Enforcement Agencies*
District of Columbia- Metropolitan Police Department
- State of Maryland
- Aberdeen Police Department
- Allegany County Police
- Department
- Annapolis Police Department
- Anne Arundel County Police
- Department
- Baltimore City Police Department
- Baltimore County Police
- Department
- Bel Air Police Department
- Berlin Police Department
- Boonsboro Police Department
- Brunswick Police Department
- Calvert County Sheriff's Office
- Cambridge Police Department
- Carroll County Sheriff's Office
- Charles County Sheriff's Office
- Cheverly Police Department
- Chevy Chase Village Police
- Department
- Cumberland Police Department
- District Height Police Department
- Dorchester County Sheriff's Office
- Easton Police Department
- Frederick City Police Department
- Frederick County Sheriff's Office
- Gaithersburg Police Department
- Greenbelt Police Department
- Hagerstown Police Department
- Hampstead Police Department
- Hancock Police Department
- Harford County Sheriff's Office
- Havre de Grace Police Department
- Howard County Police Department
- Hyattsville Police Department
- Kent County Sheriff's Office
- Laurel Police Department
- Maryland National Capital Park
- PD - Montgomery County
- MD Natural Resources Police
- Department
- Maryland State Police
- Maryland Transportation
- Authority Police
- Montgomery County Police
- Department
- Ocean City Police Department
- Princess Anne Police Department
- Queen Anne's County
- Sheriff's Office
- Riverdale Park Police Department
- Salisbury Police Department
- St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office
- Smithsburg Police Department
- Sykesville Police Department
- Somerset County Sheriff's Office
- Talbot County Sheriff's Office
- Taneytown Police Department
- Trappe Police Department
- University of Maryland Police
- Department
- Washington County Sheriff's Office
- Westminster Police Department
- Wicomico County Sheriff's Office
- Worchester County Sheriff's Office
Recognition Awards - Campaigns, Law Enforcement
The Smooth Operator Program has won numerous awards over the years. Below are
various regional, national and awards and/or recognition this program has received:
- Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)
- Peter K. O'Rourke Special Achievement Award: 2006 Smooth Operator Program
- Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police (VACP) VACP's Law Enforcement Challenge Award: Fairfax County Police Department: Outstanding Program, 2006 Smooth Operator
- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Law Enforcement Challenge:
- Fairfax County Police Department: Outstanding Program, 2006 Smooth Operator
- American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) Public Affairs and Consumer Awards (PACE) Awards:
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration:
- Nine PACE Awards including: Regional Award for 2009 Smooth Operator Campaign Marketing and Communications; Regional Award for 2007 Smooth Operator Campaign Promotional Items; Regional Award for 2006 Smooth Operator Campaign Training Video; International and Regional Awards for 2005 Smooth Operator Campaign Radio; Regional Award for 2004 Smooth Operator Campaign Radio; Regional Award for 2003 Smooth Operator Campaign Billboard; Regional Award for 2002 Smooth Operator Campaign Poster; International and Regional Awards for 2001 Smooth Operator Marketing Campaign