Prince George's County - Illegal Dumping and Litter Control Law - Video Evidence and Reward Programs
Summary
SB525 creates a five-year pilot program in Prince George’s County to help enforce the Illegal Dumping and Litter Control Law using video evidence submitted by members of the public. Under the bill, a person who records an alleged illegal dumping or littering violation in Prince George’s County may submit that video to the appropriate enforcement unit, and if the video leads to a conviction, the submitter may receive half of the fines collected in relation to the violation. The bill also allows the county court governing body to refer unpaid fines to the Central Collection Unit for collection.
The bill amends Maryland Criminal Law § 10-110, which already prohibits dumping litter on highways and public or private property and sets misdemeanor penalties based on the amount of litter involved or whether the conduct was for commercial gain. It also revises how fines collected under the law are used in Prince George’s County, directing them not only to litter receptacles, signage, and litter-control efforts, but also to maintenance costs for the pilot program, oversight and operations related to litter removal, and rewards for successful video submissions. The program is set to take effect October 1, 2025, and automatically expire on September 30, 2030 unless extended by later legislation.
Impact
The bill makes a targeted, county-specific change to Maryland’s criminal littering statute by adding a Prince George’s County pilot enforcement and reward mechanism. It does not change the underlying statewide prohibitions or penalty ranges for illegal dumping and littering, but it does alter fine distribution and authorized uses of those fines in Prince George’s County. It also gives the county an additional collection tool by allowing unpaid fines to be referred to the Central Collection Unit.
Sentiment
The voting record shows strong, unanimous support in both chambers, with third reading passage votes of 43-0, 131-0, and 46-0. The absence of recorded opposition or committee testimony suggests the bill was broadly viewed as a practical enforcement measure aimed at improving litter control and deterrence in Prince George’s County. Overall sentiment appears favorable and noncontroversial.
Contention
No formal opposition is reflected in the available record, but the bill’s structure suggests the main policy questions were about using citizen-submitted video evidence and paying rewards from collected fines. Potential concerns would include privacy, enforcement fairness, evidentiary reliability, and whether financial incentives could encourage reporting or disputes over citations. The bill resolves these concerns by limiting the program to a Prince George’s County pilot and by tying rewards to convictions and collected fines.