Multiple traffic safety enforcement bills were introduced during the 2026 legislative session with a handful of them getting stuck in committee ahead of the deadline to cross over to the opposite chamber. Two of these bills were attempting to improve traffic safety by extending new enforcement tools.

With the “crossover” deadline for the Maryland General Assembly having come and gone, as of Monday, a handful of traffic safety bills failed to make the cut in time this year.

HB 1522 would have strengthened traffic safety accountability for rental vehicles by repealing the exemptions for a vehicle rental or leasing company from liability for citations issued by a red-light camera or speed monitoring system in Maryland. Public safety is enhanced by all motorists being subject to enforcement, rather than certain groups being openly exempted.

MACo supported HB 1522 to hold rental and leasing companies accountable when vehicles they own are cited by red-light or speed cameras.

From the MACo testimony:

More frequently than ever, horrific traffic accidents have claimed the lives or good health of Maryland residents. Vehicle drivers and passengers aren’t the only ones in danger – pedestrians and cyclists alongside the roadways are also at risk of harm or death. Research has shown that penalties for violations have the potential to change behavior and drive down the number of citations over time.

HB 1408 authorizes a law enforcement agency to impound a vehicle for which three or more unpaid citations from an automated traffic enforcement system have been issued. These systems have become a widely used tool to promote safer driving and reduce dangerous behavior on Maryland roadways. However, local governments report ongoing challenges with a small number of drivers who repeatedly receive citations but fail to pay them.

MACo supported this effort to allow law enforcement agencies to impound vehicles that accumulate multiple unpaid automated enforcement citations, creating an additional accountability mechanism for habitual violators.

From the MACo testimony:

HB 1408 creates an additional pathway to hold reckless drivers accountable for behaviors that have led to a surge in the frequency and severity of incidents that are regularly putting residents at risk. This change bolsters a new standard of accountability and safety across the region.

Both bills remain in the House Environment and Transportation Committee without a final vote.