MOTORISTS could face heft fines under the newly passed “Kepp’s Law”.
The new legislation is part of an attempted crackdown on reckless driving – and could see drivers slapped with an instant $1,000 fine for the common mistake.
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Authorities in Maryland are hoping to bring in strict rules for dangerous drivers but it could catch road-users out.
Those with multiple reckless driving convictions could be ordered to place an Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) device in their car.
The technology has been designed to keep drivers within the speed limit.
Unlike traditional devices, the new one would permanently cap a car’s speed.
ISA uses speed sign recognition software to advise of the limit and impose a warning.
It can vary depending on location but often a sound will alert the driver and the vehicle may even slow.
The proposed bill has been considered after a spate of tragic incidents in Maryland.
One of these involved Sgt Kepp being gravely injured after being run over by a driver.
The Maryland police officer lost both of his legs after attempting to stop a speeding teen.
In 2023, there were more than 7,700 speed-involved crashes.
This led to more than 100 deaths and 3,225 injuries.
Maryland’s Sgt Kepp described how much more needed to be done.
He told CBS News: “We’re just trying to make sure we can stop those behaviors before or curb those behaviors before the result of someone like me or another community member getting stuck, injured or potentially killed.”
Delegate Nick Allen added: “The idea here is again it is a tool in the toolbox to make sure that people who commit these infractions are held accountable.”
Similar legislation has been passed in Washington DC, Virginia and Arizona.
It comes after a new law was imposed bringing an instant $64 ticket for drivers cited.
According to the new state law, drivers are prohibited from leaving their cars too close to crosswalks if the space isn’t marked as a no-parking zone.
But Berkeleyside says local law enforcement in the area will not ticket most drivers.
Since the start of the year, parking enforcement officers have been giving out warnings for violations of the “daylighting” law.
New driving laws in 2025
Drivers across the United States are having to adjust to a slew of new road rules that take effect in 2025. Some of those include:
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