As of October 1, 2025, one state will be cracking down on reckless driving by issuing a $1,000 fine and a 60-day penalty for those drivers who drive recklessly. The new Sgt. Patrick Kepp Act is named after the Montgomery County police officer who lost both his legs after being hit by a speeding driver. The problem of speeding is being curbed with fines and possible jail time being imposed on citizens driving 30 mph over the speed limit in the state.
Why is one state focusing on taking speeding more seriously?
The reason the law came to exist in the state was due to a tragedy. Sgt. Kepp had tried to stop a vehicle on I-270 when the speeding driver, Raphael Mayorga, who was traveling more than 100 mph, knocked him down. Due to the impact, Sgt. Kepp had to have both legs amputated.
The driver, Mayorga, was recently convicted on the basis of several other charges; however, he did not face any consequences on the basis of attempted murder. When Sgt. Kepp testified before the Maryland General Assembly at the beginning of the year, the state soon realized that there was no prevention in place to stop offenders from exceeding speed limits. The tighter control being put in place in honor of Sgt. Kepp is to ensure that roads in the state become safer.
What the Sgt. Kepp Act means for the masses?
Under the Sgt. Kepp Act, there are consequences put in place for drivers who choose to speed. As per the new law:
- All drivers driving over the speed limit by 30 mph will incur a fine of over $1,000.
- Offenders who engage in the act of speeding more than once will face 60 days of jail time.
- Penalties in cases of reckless driving that cause harm or injury to others would be more severe.
The Sgt. Kepp Act will ensure that drivers remain aware of the speed at which they are driving. Knowing that consequences such as license suspension and even driver education courses are on the cards for offenders, drivers may choose to adhere to speeding laws in place throughout the state. The overall aim with the new law is to ensure that high fatality crashes do not result due to incidents of careless driving in the state.
What will be put in place from October 1 in this respective state?
With the law set in stone as of yesterday, October 1, 2025, all law enforcement agencies throughout Maryland prepared for the launch of a campaign that stringently enforced the law, with drivers seeing:
- More patrolling occurring on all major highways, including I-270, I-95, and the Beltway.
- Stringent speed enforcement zones in areas boasting high crash rates.
- Digital signage being placed where necessary to inform drivers of the penalties that will be faced.
Now that Maryland drivers will see massive changes, all drivers must stick to speed limits and take the law very seriously so that innocent drivers and pedestrians remain protected in the state.
The case that left its mark on the state and resulted in a new law
Mayorga’s consequences and the fact that he was not charged on the basis of attempted murder made quite the impression on individuals throughout Maryland. The case left such an indelible mark on the citizens and as a result, a new law had to come about. Maryland’s Senate Bill 590 (Sgt. Patrick Kepp Act) came about as a way to show Sgt. Kepp and others in the state that the threat of careless driving throughout the state was noted and even taken care of.
The law in place is set to protect officers and all citizens of Maryland as the state becomes one of the core states to address excessive speeding. Speeding is a serious crime with drastic consequences, and this surely is noted throughout the state with the new law in place. Citizens in Maryland will have to say goodbye to $40 tickets as the state enforces more stringent measures for offenders.
