Bill > HB1116

This bill establishes a pilot program in Howard County to combat illegal dumping by authorizing a designated county department to install surveillance systems at known dumping sites. When these systems record a vehicle involved in illegal dumping, the designated department will mail a citation or warning to the vehicle's owner, detailing the violation, location, date, time, and a copy of the surveillance image, along with the amount of a civil penalty, which cannot exceed $1,000. The owner can either pay the penalty directly to Howard County or elect to stand trial in the District Court, with the District Court, in consultation with the designated department, responsible for creating a uniform citation form and setting penalty amounts. The bill also clarifies that such violations will not be recorded on a driver's record and can be treated similarly to parking violations, potentially leading to the refusal or suspension of vehicle registration if the penalty is not paid or the violation is not contested. This program is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will automatically expire after five years on June 30, 2031.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1116?ys=2026RS