New Maryland Law Targets Reckless and Aggressive Driving

Starting October 1, 2025, the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act will take effect in Maryland. This law is named after a police sergeant who lost both legs when a speeding driver hit him. The new Maryland law targets reckless and aggressive driving to protect people on the road.

Reckless driving causes about six percent of traffic deaths, which is a large share. Certain behaviors are considered reckless driving, such as speeding. The new law allows attorneys to charge reckless driving as a criminal offense.

What Is Reckless Driving?

Reckless driving is defined under Maryland Transportation Article §21–901.1 as operating a motor vehicle with wanton or willful disregard for other people’s safety. It refers to people who disregard risks and excessively speed, aggressively pass other vehicles, ride another’s bumper, street race, or run traffic lights.

Reckless driving is a misdemeanor. A conviction can grant you fines, points on your license, and higher insurance rates. It can also make finding a job difficult if your work involves operating vehicles.

In Maryland, if you are caught exceeding the posted speed limit by 30 mph or more, it is now, along with other careless and hostile driving behaviors, considered a serious speeding violation with major penalties. Depending on what happened, you could receive jail time.

Defending Against Reckless Driving Charges

Fighting reckless driving charges requires a carefully planned approach, as a conviction can lead to big fines, license points, higher insurance rates, or jail time. For a claim of reckless driving, the police must prove that you willfully ignored safety, not just that you were speeding or made a small traffic mistake.

Your Maryland lawyer can review the circumstances surrounding a reckless driving charge, including road and traffic conditions. Your Maryland lawyer might argue that your driving was not unreasonably dangerous or incautious due to the road or traffic conditions. Evidence, such as dashcam footage, GPS data, or witness statements, can also help your defense.

Other Consequences of a Reckless Driving Conviction

Beyond fines and jail time, a reckless driving conviction can make certain tasks in your life challenging for years. Your insurance rates may escalate, or your insurance company might cancel your contract. You could lose your license if you acquire multiple violations.

A conviction will give you a permanent criminal record, and that can make it difficult to get jobs and security clearances or keep professional licenses. All these problems make it critical that you seek good legal help to fight reckless or distracted driving charges under Maryland’s new law.

Why You Need a Lawyer for Reckless Driving Charges

You need an attorney because a conviction brings penalties, such as heavy fines, losing your license, high insurance rates, or jail time. Reckless driving is not a traffic ticket; it is a misdemeanor that gives you a permanent criminal record. A good lawyer in Maryland will focus on investigating what happened, challenge evidence, and arrange with prosecutors to get charges of dangerous or inattentive driving dropped or reduced.

Contact a Maryland Lawyer To Discuss the New Laws Involving Careless or Dangerous Driving

With the new Maryland law targeting reckless and aggressive driving, contact Maryland Criminal Defense Law Group to discuss your incident and how this change may affect you. Call today to schedule a free case evaluation with a dedicated attorney who could advocate for and defend you.