Sunday night traffic in Hawkins Point turned into a standstill after what police describe as a large illegal car takeover on Fort Armistead Road. Southern District officers say roughly 65 vehicles blocked the roadway and drove recklessly before patrol units moved in. The response led to dozens of stops, multiple citations and several towed vehicles as crews worked to clear the mess and reopen the road, part of a broader statewide push against dangerous car meetups.
Feb. 8 @ 11:10pm Southern District officers responded to illegal exhibition driving on Ft. Armistead Rd. involving approx. 65 vehicles blocking traffic & driving recklessly.🚔 53 stops📝 18 citations🚗 6 towedBPD remains committed to proactive enforcement and roadway safety. pic.twitter.com/dWp1AXy5Mo
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) February 10, 2026
What police say they found
In a post on X, the Baltimore Police Department said Southern District units responded at about 11:10 p.m. and arrived to find roughly 65 vehicles blocking travel lanes and performing dangerous maneuvers. The department reported 53 traffic stops, 18 citations and six vehicles towed from the scene, and said the effort reflects its focus on roadway safety, according to the Baltimore Police Department.
State law behind increased enforcement
Maryland tightened penalties for exhibition driving in 2024 with House Bill 601, creating a statewide prohibition on the practice and increasing fines, license points and potential jail time for offenders, according to the Maryland General Assembly. The statute took effect June 1, 2024 and gave prosecutors and traffic units additional tools to go after the organizers and drivers of unsanctioned takes.
Regional task force and recent trends
The Maryland Car Rally Task Force, a multi‑agency effort that includes state police and local departments, has been rotating high‑visibility patrols and breaking up large unsanctioned meets across the region, according to a Maryland Department of State Police release. Local reporting has documented stolen vehicles and weapons recovered during those operations, and has linked several past meets to arrests, as reported by CBS Baltimore.
Legal consequences and tows…