Legislative Session 2021
SB495 & HB668: Must Appear Bill: Providing that a person charged with reckless or negligent driving that contributes to an accident that results in the death of another person must appear in court and may not prepay the fine. This would be a modification to the previously passed ROW bill from 2008.
Bill from 2020: HB1186 – 2020
Sponsor & cosponsors: Senator Cassilly & Delegate Szeliga
Committee: Senate: Judicial Proceedings & House: Judiciary
House Judiciary Committee YouTube page: Judiciary YouTube
Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee YouTube page: Senate JPR YouTube
Status: No Vote – Died in committee – Both chambers
ABATE of Maryland Position: Support
SB0712 Helmet Exception Bill: Providing that the prohibition against operating or riding on a motorcycle without certain protective headgear does not apply to an individual at least 21 years old who has been licensed to operate a motorcycle for at least 2 years, has completed a certain motorcycle safety course, or is a passenger on a motorcycle operated by a driver who has been licensed for at least 2 years or has completed a certain motorcycle safety course.
Previous year Bill number: SB0237 – 2020
The hearing will be held in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
Bill Sponsors: Senators Hough, Baily, Carozza, Cassilly Eckardt, Edwards, Kramer, Ready, Salling and Simonaire
Committee Hearing date: Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 1:00PM
ABATE of Maryland Position: Support
Status: No Vote – Died in JPR committee
HB 1114 – Illegal Dumping and Litter Control Law – Yard Waste – Disposal on Highways:Prohibiting a person from disposing of yard waste on a highway; establishing a penalty for a violation of the Act; and requiring a court to order a person found guilty of disposing of yard waste in violation of the Act to remove or render harmless the yard waste or reimburse the State, county, municipal corporation, or bi-county unit for its costs incurred in removing the yard waste.
Del. Steve Arentz (R, District 36) filed this bill again this year and we are seeking support from bicyclists, the AMA, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Shore River Keepers Association
Previous year Bill number: HB008
Bill Sponsor: Del. Steve Arentz
House Committee: Environment and Transportation
ABATE of Maryland Position: Support
Current Laws in Maryland:
Maryland Code, Transportation § 21-1111
Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 10-110
Amendments: HB1114 Amendment 803526-01 HB 1114 Amendment 723723-01 HB 1114 Amendment 373526-01
Passed by Committee (23-1) – FWA (3/19/2021) and the House (3/20/2021)
Committee Voting Record: HB 1114 Committee Vote
Bill as amended: HB 1114 Amended House
Status: Senate Judicial Committee Hearing 4/1/2021
No vote – died in JPR Committee
SB 17 & HB 855 Wades Law: prohibit a person from causing a life-threatening injury to another as a result of the person’s driving, operating, or controlling a motor vehicle or vessel in a criminally negligent manner; exempting certain conduct that results in a life-threatening injury to another; and establishing a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 18 months or a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both for a violation of the Act.
Sponsor & co-sponsors:
Senate: Senator Mary Beth Carozza & Senator Chris West
House: Delegate Hartman
Previous Year Bill No: 2020 SB 29
Committee: Senate Judicial Proceedings & House Judiciary
Status
SB17
Senate, JPR Committee: Passed 11-0
Senate Floor: Passed 47-0
House Judiciary: Passed 18-1 Favorable w/Amendments
House Floor: Passed 132-1
Came back to Senate (amendments), Passed 46-0, Enrolled 4/12/2021
HB855
House Judiciary: Passed 15-5 Favorable w/Amendments
House Floor: Passed 127-7
Senate JPR: No vote
ABATE of Maryland Position: Support
SB 293 / HB 118 – Vulnerable Individuals: FOR the purpose of prohibiting an individual from causing the serious physical injury or death of a vulnerable individual as a result of the individual operating a vehicle in violation of certain provisions of the Maryland Vehicle Law; establishing certain penalties for a violation of this Act; establishing that an individual charged with a violation of this Act must appear in court and may not prepay the fine; requiring the Motor Vehicle Administration to suspend for a certain amount of time the driver’s license of an individual convicted of a violation of this Act; defining the term “vulnerable individual” for purposes of this Act; and generally relating to penalties for causing the serious physical injury or death of a vulnerable individual.
SB293 HB118
Sponsor: Senator Waldstreicher & Delegates Stein & Malone
Previous Year Bill No: SB0512 & HB0721 Session: 2020 Regular Session
Committee: Senate Judicial Proceedings House: Environment and Transportation
Status: (SB 293)
Senate – Hearing: Voted out of Committee, 11-0 Favorable vote
Senate Floor Vote: 45-0 (3/5/2021)
House: Hearing: voted out of committee, 24-0 Favorable with Amendments
House Floor Vote: 131-0 – Passed in the House
Returned to Senate (amendments), passed
– Headed to Governor for signature
Status: (HB0118)
House: Hearing: voted out of committee, 24-0 Favorable
House Floor Vote: 133-2 – Passed in the House
Senate – Hearing: Voted out of Committee, 11-0 Favorable with Amendments
Senate Floor Vote: 47-0
House: Passed, enrolled, 4/8/2021
Headed to Governor for signature
ABATE of Maryland Position: Support
HB 178 & SB 408 Vehicle Laws – Reckless Driving, Speed Contests, Registration Plates, and Noise Abatement – Penalties: Prohibiting a person from knowingly obscuring a registration plate for the purpose of evading automated enforcement of the Maryland Vehicle Law; providing a $500 fine for a violation of this section of the Act; increasing the assessments for certain motor vehicle violations related to reckless driving or participation in a race or speed contest to 12 points; establishing that a person charged with reckless driving or violations related to participation in a race or speed contest must appear in court and may not prepay the fine; etc.
House Sponsor & cosponsors: Delegate Stewart
House Committee: Environment and Transportation
Senate Sponsor & Cosponsor: Senators Kramer and Zucker
Senate Committee: Judicial Proceedings
Status (HB178):
House:E&T Committee hearing, Committee, voted favorable with amendments 24-0,
House floor vote 128-0 Favorable
Referred to Senate JPR – No Vote – Died in Committee
Status (SB408):
Senate JPR: No Vote – Died in Committee
ABATE of Maryland Position: Support with amendment
Basically, this sets a minimum fine amount of $200. Previously, there was a maximum fine only. It could be a no fine violation under the current law. Existing MD Transportation Code: Maryland Transportation Section 22-609