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Legislative Goals.

ABATE OF MD, INC / Legislative Goals

Legislative Goals 2021

Check back here for updates during the 2021 Session beginning in January 2021

Must Appear Bill: if violating the right-of-way of or causing the serious physical injury or death of a vulnerable individual as a result of the person operating a vehicle in a careless or distracted manner, the violator may be fined up to a certain dollar amount and must appear in court. This would be a modification to the previously passed ROW bill from 2008: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?ys=2008rs/billfile/SB0712.htm

  • Reckless and Negligent Driving – Death of Another – Must-Appear Violation: 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.
  • Sponsor & cosponsors: Delegates Szeliga  
  • Committee: Judiciary
  • Next Important Date: In the House: TBD
  • ABATE of Maryland Position: Support
  • 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. 

Grass Clippings: Expanding the Illegal Dumping and Litter Control Law to include yard waste; establishing a maximum 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) hopes to work on this bill again this year and we are seeking support from bicyclists, the AMA, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Shore River Keepers Association

SB 17 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.

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0017

  • Previous Year Bill No: 2020 SB 29 
  • Committee: Judicial Proceedings
  • Next Important Date: In the Senate, JPR Committee: 1/19/2021, 1pm
  • ABATE of Maryland Position: Support

SB 293 / HB 118 – Vulnerables 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

HB 178Vehicle 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.

Changes in Section

EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, A
8 PERSON CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT
9 EXCEEDING $1,000.
10 (2) A person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) of this section that
11 results in serious bodily injury to another person, as defined in § 20–102(c) of this article,
12 is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.
13 22–609.
14 (a) A person may not modify the exhaust system or any other noise abatement
15 device of a motor vehicle driven or to be driven on any highway in this State in such a way
16 that the noise emitted by the vehicle exceeds that emitted by the vehicle as originally
17 manufactured.
18 (b) A person may not drive on any highway in this State a motor vehicle with an
19 exhaust system or noise abatement device modified in a way prohibited by subsection (a) of
20 this section.
21 (C) A PERSON CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS SUBJECT TO
22 A FINE OF $200.

Link to Bill: HB 178

  • Sponsor & cosponsors: Delegate Stewart
  • Previous Year Bill No: 
  • Committee: Environment and Transportation
  • Next Important Date: Committee hearing, 1/21/2021, 1:30 pm 
  • ABATE of Maryland Position: Unfavorable – DO NOT SUPPORT

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

Article – Transportation
§ 22-609.

      (a)      A person may not modify the exhaust system or any other noise abatement device of a motor vehicle driven or to be driven on any highway in this State in such a way that the noise emitted by the vehicle exceeds that emitted by the vehicle as originally manufactured.

      (b)      A person may not drive on any highway in this State a motor vehicle with an exhaust system or noise abatement device modified in a way prohibited by subsection (a) of this section.

These issues will require a lot of effort. We will need as many people to help as possible. Monday Night Workshops, calls to representatives, attending committee hearings, etc. If we all do a little, we can make a great impact.

Contact a Legislator:

Find your legislator here: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District

Click on the committee links above to see each committee member and their contact info.

Suggested Email/Phone Script: I am contacting (Delegate or Senator / Committee Chair) to urge a vote and favorable report for (Bill number), relating to (subject / description)

(Name)
(ABATE OF MARYLAND, INC. MEMBER)
(MD Resident and Registered Voter)

Updated 1/19/2021-kbe

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