Safety advocates and victims’ families urge stricter penalties for street takeovers at council hearing

Montgomery County held a public hearing on Bill 27-26, a proposed ordinance to prohibit unlawful racing and street takeovers, drawing testimony from safety advocates, bereaved family members and nearby residents.

John Tsang, chair of Safe Roads Maryland, urged the council to avoid weakening state law and to ensure enforcement capacity. “An effective enforcement requires a stronger, larger, and better equipped Montgomery County Police Department,” Tsang said, while also suggesting legal, organized alternatives such as local raceways.

Mindy Baden of Families for Safe Streets described the loss of her son and pressed for tougher penalties and for the county bill to cover private parking lots and structures where takeovers increasingly occur. “Every person involved with these dangerous street takeovers needs to face very tough penalties,” she said.

Other residents recounted recent takeovers in and near downtown Bethesda and asked the council to consider private property and parking lots in the ordinance’s reach. Testimony acknowledged that enforcement is necessary for the law to be effective and that local police resourcing and interagency coordination will matter.

The council closed the public hearing without immediate action; a Public Safety Committee work session was scheduled for Oct. 5, 2026, to continue deliberations and to accept additional materials through Sept. 28, 2026.