Motor Vehicles - Out-of-State Drivers - Automated Enforcement (Out-of-State Driver Accountability Act)
HB915, the Out-of-State Driver Accountability Act, expands Maryland’s tools for enforcing traffic citations against out-of-state motorists, with a particular focus on automated enforcement. The bill requires county and municipal automated traffic enforcement programs to file quarterly reports with the Vision Zero coordinator identifying citations issued to vehicles registered in other states, including whether each citation has been paid or is past due, and a cumulative summary of those citations. The reporting requirement applies broadly to automated systems such as speed cameras, red-light cameras, school bus cameras, stop-sign cameras, railroad crossing systems, bus lane cameras, noise abatement systems, vehicle height monitoring, and other authorized automated traffic enforcement systems.
The bill also authorizes the Attorney General or the appropriate local State’s Attorney to bring civil actions to collect unpaid and overdue traffic citations against certain District of Columbia residents or D.C.-registered vehicles involved in Maryland traffic violations. In those actions, the State may seek payment of outstanding fines, attorney’s fees, suspension or revocation of driving privileges in Maryland, and immobilization of the vehicle through towing, impoundment, or booting. The bill excludes citations that are being contested, not yet past due, already paid, or covered by a current installment plan that is not in default. It also renumbers existing Transportation Article provisions and takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB915 amends the Maryland Transportation Article by adding new Section 8-1006 to create quarterly reporting obligations for local automated traffic enforcement programs and new Section 26-205 to create a civil enforcement mechanism for unpaid and overdue citations involving District of Columbia residents and D.C.-registered vehicles. It also renumbers existing sections 8-1006 and 8-1007 to 8-1007 and 8-1008, respectively. The practical effect is to increase state oversight of out-of-state citation collection and to give Maryland prosecutors additional leverage to recover unpaid fines and enforce compliance against certain nonresident drivers and vehicle owners.
The bill appears to have broad support in the House, passing third reading by a vote of 102-34, and the committee report was favorable with amendments. The bill’s findings frame it as a public safety and Vision Zero measure aimed at reducing dangerous driving and improving roadway safety by ensuring traffic citations are paid. The available record does not include committee transcript debate, but the vote suggests generally favorable sentiment with some minority opposition.
The main point of contention is likely the bill’s expanded enforcement reach over out-of-state drivers, especially District of Columbia residents and D.C.-registered vehicles, and the use of civil actions, attorney’s fees, license consequences, and vehicle immobilization to collect unpaid citations. Critics may view these provisions as aggressive or burdensome, particularly for nonresidents and vehicle owners who may already be contesting citations or participating in payment plans. Supporters, by contrast, emphasize accountability, collection of overdue fines, and roadway safety under Maryland’s Vision Zero goals.