Sec. 26-104.01. Motor racing, drag racing, or car takeovers; prohibited
Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 26-104.01 (2026)
Sec. 26-104.01. Motor racing, drag racing, or car takeovers; prohibitedLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Definitions. In this section, the following words mean:
(1)
Highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of any way or thoroughfare of which any part is used by the public for vehicular travel, whether or not the way or thoroughfare has been dedicated to the public and accepted by any proper authority.
(2)
Private Property means property owned by a private entity that is open to or used by members of the public generally, whether or not a fee is charged, including things such as parking lots serving industries like retail, commercial, entertainment, or other such uses.
(3)
Unlawful Race or Speed Contest means any race, speed contest, acceleration contest, or competitive exhibition of speed or acceleration involving one or more motor vehicles.
(4)
Stunt Driving means any motor vehicle performing or engaging in burnouts, doughnuts, drifting, or wheelies, or allowing a passenger to ride either partially or fully outside the vehicle while operating that vehicle.
(5)
Car Takeover means a coordinated gathering of motor vehicles and persons that results in the intentional disruption of public vehicle movement or public safety within the County, such as vehicles performing burnouts, drifting, spinning, donuts, acceleration exhibitions, or other similar maneuvers that create a substantial risk of injury. This includes motor vehicles such as ATVs, dirt bikes, or motorcycles on any county highway or private property without the owner's consent.
(6)
Exhibition Driving means the operation of a vehicle in a manner that results in one or more of the following:
(A)
the excessive, abrupt acceleration or deceleration of the motor vehicle;
(B)
the skidding, squealing, burning, or smoking of the tires of the motor vehicle;
(C)
the swerving or swaying of the motor vehicle from side to side while skidding;
(D)
the engine of the motor vehicle producing an unreasonably loud, raucous, or disturbing noise;
(E)
the grinding of the gears of the motor vehicle or the backfiring of the engine of the motor vehicle;
(F)
transportation of a passenger on or in the area of a motor vehicle that is not designed or intended for passenger transport, such as the hood or roof.
(7)
Lawful Order to Disperse means an order issued by a law enforcement officer directing people to leave a defined area because the officer has reasonable grounds to believe an unlawful race or a car takeover is occurring or about to occur.
(8)
Participant means any person, in or outside a vehicle, who purposefully slows, stops, or impedes, or attempts to slow, stop or impede, the movement of traffic, including pedestrian traffic, for the purpose of a speed contest, stunt driving, exhibition driving, or car takeover. This shall also include any person who aids, abets, promotes, organizes, or attends a speed contest, stunt driving, exhibition driving, or car takeover.
(9)
Motor Vehicle means a vehicle that is self-propelled or propelled by electric power obtained from overhead electrical wires and is not operated on rails.
(A)
For the purposes of this statute, such vehicles shall also include off-road vehicles, including but are not limited to:
(i)
two or four-wheel vehicles or ATVs;
(iii)
any other means of land transportation deriving motor power from any source other than muscle or wind.
(b)
Prohibited Conduct.
(1)
Except as authorized under section 5-185, no person may engage in an unlawful race, stunt driving, exhibition driving, speed contest, or car takeover on any highway or private property.
(2)
Except as authorized under section 5-185, no person may participate as a timekeeper, flagger, participant, or starter in an unlawful race, speed contest, or car takeover on any highway or private property.
(3)
Whenever a person is arrested or issued a citation for a violation of this section, the issuing or arresting law enforcement agency may impound the vehicle used in the offense.
(A)
A vehicle impounded pursuant to this section shall not be released unless all of the following conditions are met:
(i)
the claimant presents a valid driver's license or other photo identification, proof of ownership or lawful authority to operate the motor vehicle, and proof of valid motor vehicle insurance for that vehicle. if the vehicle will be driven out of impoundment, the claimant must have a valid driver's license.
(ii)
any other conditions for release established by the law-enforcement agency have been met.
(iii)
all reasonable towing and storage fees connected to the vehicle have been paid. The County and the arresting law-enforcement agency shall not be liable for any expenses incurred in connection with the towing and storage of said vehicle.
(c)
Penalties.
(1)
A person found in violation of section 26-104.01(b) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, subject to imprisonment not to exceed sixty (60) days and up to a one thousand ($1,000) dollar fine.
(2)
A person found in violation of section 26-104.01(b) that results in serious bodily injury to another person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, subject to imprisonment not to exceed twelve (12) months and up to a one thousand ($1000) dollar fine.