Prince George's Adopts Zoey's Law, Tightens Police Pursuit Reporting

Prince George's County moved this week to tighten oversight of police vehicle pursuits by passing Zoey's Law on Monday November 17, 2025. The new law requires the county police chief to submit annual reports to the County Council detailing every pursuit, the reasons each pursuit was initiated, and whether any incidents violated department policy. The ordinance also standardizes reporting so that city police agencies operating under mutual aid agreements follow the same restrictions as the county.

County leaders said the change was prompted by a string of recent tragedies that included three people killed within three weeks. The measure bears the name of 3 year old Zoey Harrison, who died on March 7 while riding in a car with her mother. The bill was co sponsored by Council Member Krystal Oriadha and advanced with the stated goal of reducing lethal outcomes when officers pursue vehicles.

By placing an annual reporting obligation on the police chief, the law builds a formal accountability mechanism into local oversight. The reports are intended to create a public record of pursuit activity and to allow council members and residents to assess patterns, compliance with policy, and whether current pursuit rules are producing avoidable harm. The standardization element addresses operational complexity when municipal departments assist the county under mutual aid, a frequent feature of policing in the region.

For residents, the law promises greater transparency about risky police activity on county roads and clearer avenues for public review. Annual reporting may prompt internal reviews, training changes, or revisions to pursuit guidance if the data show recurring policy violations or disproportionate harms. Local advocates and family members framed the measure as a living memorial to those killed in pursuit related crashes and as a step toward broader reform at the state level.

Institutionally, Zoey's Law shifts some oversight from ad hoc reviews to a routine governance function, giving the County Council better information to craft policy and to request operational changes from the police department. It may also set a model for neighboring jurisdictions considering similar reforms to pursuit oversight and reporting.

The law addresses a local public safety concern while raising broader questions about how pursuit practices, interagency cooperation, and transparency intersect. As annual reports begin to arrive, council members and community groups will be watching for evidence that the new requirements reduce the risk of pursuit related tragedies and inform state level policymakers considering wider change.