BETHESDA, MD — Police across Montgomery County arrested 25 people for driving under the influence during the seventh weekend of the county's alcohol holiday task force, authorities said. That brings the total number of DUI arrests to 256 over a seven-week enforcement period.

The Montgomery County Police Alcohol Holiday Task Force, which cracks down on alcohol-related offenses, began its work Nov. 13 and will continue through Jan. 5. The task force consists of Montgomery County police, Rockville City police, Maryland National Capital Park Police, Gaithersburg police, Takoma Park police, and Maryland state troopers. Efforts to prevent drunk drivers during the 2019 holiday season include enforcing sobriety checkpoints, ticketing the hosts of underage drinking parties, and conducting compliance checks on businesses that sell alcohol.

Montgomery County Police said that from Dec. 26-29, they arrested 25 people for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In 2015, Montgomery County Police Officer Noah Leotta was killed when he was hit by a repeat drunk driver while working on the alcohol task force. As a result, state law now requires ignition interlocks to all drunken driving offenders in Maryland.

"Alex and Calvin's Law" was enacted after two Thomas Wootton High School graduates died in a crash following an underage party. Adults who host parties where alcohol is served to minors can now face jail time and a $5,000 fine. The task force is scheduled to run until Jan. 5, and will focus on the following: