Maryland No Chase Law
Agency discretion
Does Maryland have a no-chase law? No — Maryland has no statewide law restricting police pursuits. Each department sets its own chase policy.
What governs pursuits in Maryland
Md. Transportation Code §19-103; Md. Courts & Judicial Proceedings §5-639 (gross-negligence liability standard, not a pursuit restriction)
Maryland has no statewide statute restricting when police may pursue; §19-103 (Transportation) and §5-639 (Courts & Jud. Proc.) set a gross-negligence liability standard for officers in emergency situations including pursuits, but leave the actual go/no-go pursuit decision to each agency's own policy. Practices vary by department — e.g., Anne Arundel County limits pursuits to serious/violent crimes with clear evasion intent, while Baltimore PD (Policy 1503) and Maryland State Police use their own risk-assessment frameworks.
Will police chase a motorcycle in Maryland?
No statewide law addresses motorcycles specifically; it's up to each Maryland department's pursuit policy and the pursuing officer's/supervisor's risk assessment whether to continue chasing a motorcycle, similar to any vehicle.
No US state has a literal law forbidding officers from chasing motorcycles. What riders call a "no-chase law" is nearly always a department policy that tells officers to break off a pursuit when the danger to the public outweighs the arrest — and fleeing remains a crime in Maryland regardless. See the state-by-state motorcycle guide for how this works everywhere.
Recent changes
No major statewide statutory change to pursuit law identified for 2023-2026; changes remain at the local agency-policy level.
Sources
- foxbaltimore.com/news/local/heres-how-maryland-police-officers-decide-when-to-ch
- millerandzois.com/claims-by-maryland-jurisdictions/baltimore-personal-injury-law
- montgomerycountymd.gov/POL/Resources/Files/PDF/Directives/100/FC135.pdf
Verified as of August 2026. Department policies can change without notice — check the agency's published policy for current break-off criteria.