Montgomery County moves to hike fines for illegal street takeovers to $5,000 as officials weigh the need for deterrence against concerns over civil liberties.
The roar of engines blocking an intersection for a stunt show is becoming a costlier gamble in Montgomery County. On Monday. the County Council’s Public Safety Committee voted to advance Bill 27-26. a measure designed to crack down on drivers and spectators who choke local streets for racing and stunt driving.
While the legislation initially proposed fines of up to $1,000, Council member Dawn Luedtke successfully pushed for a $5,000 penalty. Luedtke argued that because these events are often organized for profit and advertised on social media. the current financial deterrents are insufficient. “There is a gambling component to this,” she said. “We need to make the fine significant enough that it has a deterrent effect… Then, it’s going to hurt. And it needs to.”.
Acting Police Chief Darren Francke echoed the urgency, warning the committee that these gatherings are not mere nuisances. “The reality of these street takeovers is that they can get people hurt, and they can get people killed,” he said. “They’re disrupting our community.”
Not every official was ready to cast a vote. Council member Kristin Mink abstained, expressing reservations about the bill’s potential impact on First Amendment rights. Having participated in protests that slowed traffic. Mink emphasized the need to ensure the legislation could not be used to suppress protected speech.
The committee also explored the expansion of the police department’s “Drone as First Responder” program, which was introduced in 2023. The fleet has grown to 12 drones, which police say can arrive at incident scenes 75% faster than patrol vehicles. Since the program’s inception, the units have responded to more than 5,000 calls for service.
Captain Tony Galladora of the Operational Intelligence Division highlighted the program’s utility by recounting a recent emergency involving two children. aged 7 and 8. The children. who have developmental disabilities and include one non-verbal child. had been missing for 15 to 20 minutes when their mother called 911. Within four minutes of the call. drones located the children—one running in the middle of a street—and both were safely secured with officers in under 10 minutes.
As the department considers deploying drones along the I-270 corridor and the Burtonsville area. the focus remains on balancing rapid response with transparency. Susan Farag. the senior public safety policy and budget analyst for the Council. reminded committee members that technological efficiency must be matched by clear communication regarding data retention and the prevention of broad surveillance capabilities. While Council member Mink credited the police department for their public engagement efforts. the tension remains: the constant pressure to secure public safety without overstepping the boundaries of public trust.
Montgomery County street takeovers Bill 27-26 police drones public safety legislation