SB 710 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Criminal Law - Motor Vehicle - Criminal Negligence (Sergeant Patrick Keep Act)

SB 710, the Sergeant Patrick Keep Act, creates a new criminal misdemeanor for driving a motor vehicle or operating a vessel in a criminally negligent manner - defined as failing to recognize a serious danger a reasonable person would have seen. It distinguishes criminal negligence (a new offense) from ordinary negligence (which remains a civil matter under Maryland’s transportation law). Penalties include up to six months in jail or a $5,000 fine for driving negligently, and up to one year in jail or $5,000 for causing a life-threatening injury through such negligence. This law applies to all drivers and vessel operators in Maryland who act with criminal negligence, not to those who are merely negligent.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 31, 2025 Last action Mar 26, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Criminal Law - Motor Vehicle or Vessel - Criminal Negligence → Third - Criminal Law - Motor Vehicle - Criminal Negligence (Sergeant Patrick Keep Act) · 5 edits

MODERATE

SB 710 was amended to rename the bill the 'Sergeant Patrick Keep Act' and expand its scope by adding a new section (3-212.2) that creates a separate criminal negligence offense for driving motor vehicles, distinct from the existing vessel-related provisions. The amendments also add specific definitions for criminally negligent conduct and establish penalties for violations.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from only addressing criminal negligence involving motor vehicles or vessels to creating a distinct offense specifically for criminally negligent motor vehicle operation, while retaining vessel-related provisions.

SCOPE

Added a new section 3-212.2 that establishes a separate criminal negligence offense specifically for driving motor vehicles, distinct from the existing vessel-related provisions.

Added an exemption stating that driving in a negligent manner (as defined in Transportation Article § 21-901.1) is not a violation of the new criminally negligent driving offense.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for criminally negligent conduct, including requirements that the person should be aware but fails to perceive substantial risks, and that the failure to perceive constitutes a gross deviation from reasonable care standards.

ENFORCEMENT

Established specific penalties for violations: up to 6 months imprisonment or $5,000 fine for criminally negligent driving, and up to 1 year imprisonment or $5,000 fine for causing life-threatening injury through criminally negligent driving.

TECHNICAL

Added explanatory notes about markup conventions (capital letters for additions, brackets for deletions, underlining for amendments) and bill tracking information.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2025

How they voted

43–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 46

Feb 28, 2025

D Democratic33

30 Yea 3

90% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Judiciary

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (43-0-3)

senate

Jan 31, 2025

Committee

First Reading Judicial Proceedings

upper

7 primary · 0 co-sponsors