EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0044*
SENATE BILL 44
R5 5lr0895
SB 68/24 – JPR (PRE–FILED)
By: Senators Carozza, Gile, James, Jennings, Klausmeier, Muse, Watson, and West
Requested: September 19, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 7, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Reckless and Negligent Driving – Death of Another – Must–Appear Violation 2
(Sherry and Christian’s Law) 3
FOR the purpose of providing that a person charged with reckless or negligent driving that 4
contributes to an accident that results in the death of another person must appear 5
in court and may not prepay the fine; authorizing a court to waive the requirement 6
to appear under certain circumstances; and generally relating to reckless and 7
negligent driving. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Transportation 10
Section 21–901.1 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Transportation 16
21–901.1. 17
(a) A person is guilty of reckless driving if he drives a motor vehicle: 18
2 SENATE BILL 44
(1) In wanton or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property; or 1
(2) In a manner that indicates a wanton or willful disregard for the safety 2
of persons or property. 3
(b) A person is guilty of negligent driving if he drives a motor vehicle in a careless 4
or imprudent manner that endangers any property or the life or person of any individual. 5
(c) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A 6
PERSON CHARGED WITH A VIOLATION OF T HIS SECTION THAT CON TRIBUTES TO AN 7
ACCIDENT THAT RESULT S IN THE DEATH OF AN OTHER: 8
(I) MUST APPEAR IN COURT ; AND 9
(II) MAY NOT PREPAY THE FI NE. 10
(2) AFTER A COURT HAS ISS UED A WRIT SETTING T HE DATE, TIME, 11
AND PLACE FOR THE PE RSON TO APPEAR , THE COURT MAY, FOR GOOD CAUSE 12
SHOWN: 13
(I) WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT TO APPEAR IN COURT ; AND 14
(II) ALLOW THE PERSON TO E NTER A PLEA OF GUILT Y AND 15
PREPAY THE FINE . 16
(D) A person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) of this section is subject to a 17
fine not exceeding $1,000. 18
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 19
October 1, 2025. 20
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.