Street Racing and Exhibition Driving - Prohibited Acts, Enforcement, and Penalties

This Maryland bill updates laws regarding street racing and exhibition driving by increasing penalty points and clarifying prohibited behaviors. It assigns eight points to drivers convicted of racing or exhibition driving on public highways, raising this to twelve points if the activity causes serious bodily injury. The legislation also formally defines exhibition driving as dangerous actions like skidding, swerving, or carrying passengers in unauthorized areas, making these acts illegal on any highway or public property. While maintaining existing fines and jail terms, the bill introduces specific defenses allowing drivers to argue they acted reasonably for safety or were participating in a permitted parade.