HB591 creates a new local traffic safety rule that applies only in Wicomico County. It prohibits a person from standing in a roadway, shoulder, median divider, or intersection that has been determined by the county or a municipal corporation in the county to be “inherently dangerous,” meaning it poses a serious risk of injury that cannot be mitigated through ordinary care. The bill also requires that, before a citation can be issued, the affected location must have proper warning signs installed by the local government and those signs must comply with State Highway Administration traffic-control standards.
For state law, the bill adds a new section to the Transportation Article and gives Wicomico County and its municipalities authority to identify dangerous locations, including certain state roads, but only in consultation with the State Highway Administration. On state highways, local governments may install the required signs only with SHA approval. The act takes effect June 1, 2026, and functions as a targeted pedestrian-safety and roadway-enforcement measure rather than a statewide rule.
Impact
HB591 amends the Transportation Article by adding § 21-507.1, creating a county-specific prohibition on standing in designated dangerous roadways and related areas in Wicomico County. It authorizes local governments to designate qualifying locations, requires coordination with the State Highway Administration for state roads, and conditions enforcement on the presence of compliant warning signs. The bill affects pedestrians, drivers, local governments, police officers, and the State Highway Administration by establishing a new enforcement framework and limiting when citations may be issued.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support and little visible opposition. It passed the House and Senate unanimously on third reading, with 126-0 in the House and 43-0 in the Senate. The committee report was favorable with amendments, suggesting the measure was generally accepted while still being refined during the legislative process.
Contention
The main policy issue is how to balance pedestrian safety with enforcement and local discretion. The bill gives Wicomico County and municipalities the power to identify inherently dangerous locations, but it also limits police enforcement unless warning signs are posted and approved under state traffic-control standards. Any potential concern would likely center on whether the local designation process is sufficiently objective, whether the signage requirement is adequate notice, and how much authority local governments should have over state highways, though the unanimous votes indicate these issues were not strongly contested.