Five people, including four teens, were charged with allegedly having loaded guns after illegal car rallies were broken up in several Maryland counties.

A 16-year-old and three 17-year-olds were arrested over the weekend as the Maryland Car Rally Task Force stopped rallies in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, and Prince George’s counties.

The car rally derailment started around 9 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, focusing on public roads, industrial zones, and parking lots. 

Maryland State Police says these rallies include street racing, disorderly behavior, and blocking roadways.

State police said law enforcement dismantled car rallies at these locations:

• 800 Walden Lane in Lanham.
• 1780 Crossroads Drive in Odenton.
• 6311 Ammendale Road in Beltsville.
• 4555 Hollins Ferry Road in Baltimore.

Car rallies were prevented at these locations:

• 3321 Corridor Marketplace in Laurel.
• 11223 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring.
• 8299 Preston Court in Jessup.
• 3218 Transway Road in Halethorpe.

What are these car rallies?

These organized car rallies are getting dismantled nearly every weekend across Maryland.

Police describe the “chipeos” as “organized unpermitted car meets in public spaces involving music and dancing and attracting hundreds of people.”

Police said that at least six shootings and one stabbing since December 1 are directly associated with “chipeos” in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

On the weekend of January 3 and 4, the task force stopped four large-scale driving exhibitions and prevented three others in Maryland.

Exhibition driving made illegal in 2024

In 2024, House Bill 601 made exhibition driving and street races illegal. 

According to the law, exhibition driving is described as operating a vehicle close to a crowd and intentionally skidding, swerving while accelerating or causing the wheels to lose contact with the ground, among other actions. 

Those convicted of exhibition driving could face 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. If the illegal conduct results in harm to another person, the maximum prison sentence is one year. 

What is the Maryland Car Rally Task Force?

Maryland’s Car Rally Task Force includes officers from the state police, along with the police departments in Prince George’s, Howard, Montgomery, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties, Baltimore City and the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.

The task force was established in 2024 as a collaboration of law enforcement agencies across the state to stop illegal driving exhibitions.  

“The Maryland Car Rally Task Force was formed to really go out and combat these large-scale illegal driving exhibition events that threaten public safety,” Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo previously told WJZ.

The Maryland Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 11, 2026, results for each game:

A person who was infected with the highly contagious measles traveled through Maryland last week, the Maryland Department of Health warned.

Health officials said the person traveled on the Amtrak NE Regional train from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., and had been on the BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport between Jan. 7 and Jan. 9.

Anyone who shared these areas at these times may have been exposed:

• Amtrak NE Regional Train from Philadelphia 30th Street Station to Washington, DC Union Station on Jan. 7, 2026, from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• Amtrak BWI Shuttle to and from the BWI train station and the drop-off points outside of the lower-level of BWI Airport between Jan. 7 at 10:45 p.m., to Jan. 8 at 1:30 a.m.
• BWI Airport Parking Shuttle to and from outside of the lower-level outside of BWI Airport and the BWI Airport’s long-term parking lots between Jan. 7 at 11 p.m. to Jan. 8 at 2 a.m.
• Health officials say there were no exposures identified inside the terminals of the BWI Airport.

The health department says there have been no measles cases in Maryland in 2026. There were three cases in 2025, one in 2024, one in 2023, and no cases from 2020 to 2022.

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious disease that is spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes, according to state health officials.

The Mayo Clinic says most people can recover from measles in about 10 days, but for those who are vulnerable, the infection can be serious or deadly.

Measles can cause a blotchy rash that most often shows up first on the face and behind the ears, and then spreads to the chest and back, and to the feet, the Mayo Clinic says.

What are the symptoms of measles?

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms show up around 7 to 14 days after coming in contact with someone with measles.

Some of the first symptoms include a fever, which can be as high as 105 degrees, a dry cough, a runny nose, and red and watery eyes.

After three to five days of early symptoms showing, a rash is likely to show up. The virus can be spread four days before the rash arrives and four days after.

“Vaccination remains essential to protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities against measles and other infectious diseases,” said Maryland Department of Health Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Meg Sullivan. “These types of situations underscore the importance of knowing your vaccination status and ensuring you are up to date with all recommended vaccines.”

What to do if you have been exposed to measles

According to Maryland’s Health Department, find out if you have been vaccinated or have had the measles previously. The health department says that if you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or were born before 1957, you are likely protected.

If you aren’t fully vaccinated and you think you may have been exposed, you should call your healthcare provider or your local health department.

If you develop symptoms, you should stay at home.