Bill > SB967

This bill authorizes Howard County to use up to three noise abatement monitoring systems (NAMS) to enforce motor vehicle noise regulations, with specific technical and procedural requirements. The systems are electronic devices that can automatically record and document vehicles exceeding noise limits by at least 5 decibels, capturing images of the vehicle's rear license plate and recording sound levels. For first-time offenders, the county will issue a warning notice, while subsequent violations can result in a civil penalty up to $75. The bill mandates detailed procedural safeguards, including public notice of NAMS locations, signage, daily system calibration, and an official designated to review potential errors. Counties must bear the implementation costs, and the systems cannot issue more than one citation per vehicle per day. Importantly, the bill requires Howard County to submit a comprehensive report by March 1, 2026, detailing the NAMS usage, number of warnings and citations, implementation costs, revenue collected, system performance, and effectiveness in reducing vehicle noise. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with potential future modifications based on termination provisions in related legislation.

Justice

Howard County Senators

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0967?ys=2025RS