Reckless drivers in one state could face up to 60 days in jail and fines of $1,000. Drivers who fail to comply with the law and who choose to speed through Dundalk during weekdays or weekends will have committed a crime. The dangerous speed at which drivers have been driving in one state has been flagged as a problem following a tragic incident. The state has, as such, made a concerted effort to introduce penalties and jail time for reckless drivers as of October 1, 2025.
What caused the Sergeant Kepp Act to be introduced?
The new law is called the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act and it was named after a Montgomery County police officer who was hurt due to a speeding driver. After the tragic incident, the state had taken the decision to catch all offenders driving over the speed limit at 30 mph or more. The punishment for careless drivers will no longer be a speeding ticket but a much more serious offense, which includes a hefty fine or jail time.
The Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act (SB 590 / Chapter 447) was passed after Sergeant Kepp lost both his legs due to a crash that involved a driver driving at more than 100 mph. The incident shocked the state’s citizens, but it also showed some of the flaws apparent in this state’s approach to reckless drivers.
The state thereafter decided to put legislation in place that would align with the severity of the road offense. The decision resulted in lawmakers and law enforcement officials gathering to support the new act. The decision to implement the new law was further guided by the statistics pertaining to the number of speed-related fatalities on highways in the state. In fact, 30% of all crashes in the state in the previous year had occurred due to reckless driving and drivers who exceeded the speed limit by 100 mph.
Understanding how the new law will impact citizens in the state
Driving at over 30 mph above the speed limit was not seen as such a severe offense, however, the new law is introducing a change in mindset throughout the state.
With the new law in place in the state:
- The state will see speeding of over 30 mph as an automatic reckless driving charge.
- Fines of up to $1,000 will be issued for all reckless drivers.
- 6 points are being added to one’s driving record for reckless driving.
- 60 days of jail time is also on the cards.
- Drivers will face the possibility of license suspension if they are repeat offenders.
With more serious consequences to be faced by offenders, the hope is that drivers will avoid exceeding the speed limit, which may result in a reduction in the number of fatal crashes too.
How will towns like Towson, Catonsville, and Dundalk be affected?
Citizens from towns like Towson, Catonsville, Dundalk, and Silver Spring, will have to anticipate traffic stops and more intense monitoring, especially at high-risk corridors. Targeted enforcement campaigns will start this October so that all citizens from the towns in the state comply with the new rules in place. Citizens will have to embrace the fact that $40 tickets will no longer be the reality for citizens who choose to speed. Minutes of recklessness on the roads could result in the loss of a citizen’s license or even jail time for the citizen.
Which state is enforcing stricter laws in honor of Sgt. Kepp?
Maryland has adopted the Maryland Senate Bill 0590, and from this October, it is crucial for all drivers to realize that reckless driving sees you as being automatically guilty. Negligent driving is a violation of the law, and citizens need to understand their legal responsibilities if they are found guilty of any driving-related crime in the state. Maryland is restructuring road laws, and this October marks a month of massive changes for drivers in the state.
