Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0008*
HOUSE BILL 8
R5 6lr0821
(PRE–FILED)
By: Delegate Stewart
Requested: September 11, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Laws – Dangerous Driver Abatement Program – Establishment 2
(Dangerous Driver Accountability Act) 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Dangerous Driver Abatement Program; requiring the 4
Motor Vehicle Administration to administer the Program, provide a certain notice to 5
repeat offenders, suspend the renewal of a repeat offender’s vehicle registration 6
under certain circumstances, and develop and post on the Administration’s we bsite 7
a list of certain courses; requiring a repeat offender to successfully complete a certain 8
course within a certain number of days after receiving the notice; and generally 9
relating to the Dangerous Driver Abatement Program. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Labor and Employment 12
Section 3–1701 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2025 Replacement Volume) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 16
Article – Transportation 17
Section 21 –202.1(a)(1) and (5) , 21 –704.1(a)(1) and (3), 21 –706.1(a)(1) and (5), 18
21–707.1(b)(1) and (5), 21–809(a)(1) and (9), and 21–810(a)(1) and (7) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
BY adding to 22
Article – Transportation 23
Section 21 –8A–01 through 21 –8A–06 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 8A. 24
Dangerous Driver Abatement Program” 25
Annotated Code of Maryland 26
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 27
2 HOUSE BILL 8
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Labor and Employment 3
3–1701. 4
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 5
(b) “Emergency” means a catastrophic health emergency, as defined under § 6
14–3A–01 of the Public Safety Article, that is the subject of an executive proclamation 7
under § 14–3A–02 of the Public Safety Article and is related to a communicable disease. 8
(c) (1) “Essential employer” means a person that employs an essential worker. 9
(2) “Essential employer” includes a unit of State or local government. 10
(d) “Essential worker” means an individual who: 11
(1) performs a duty or work responsibility during an emergency that 12
cannot be performed remotely or is required to be completed at the work site; and 13
(2) provides services that the essential employer determines to be essential 14
or critical to its operations. 15
Article – Transportation 16
21–202.1. 17
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 18
(5) “Traffic control signal monitoring system” means a device with one or 19
more motor vehicle sensors working in conjunction with a traffic control signal to produce 20
recorded images of motor vehicles entering an intersection against a red signal indication. 21
21–704.1. 22
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 23
(3) “Automated railroad grade crossing enforcement system” means a 24
system operated by an agency that records a driver’s response to a traffic control signal or 25
traffic control device located at a railroad grade crossing. 26
21–706.1. 27
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 28
HOUSE BILL 8 3
(5) “School bus monitoring camera” means a camera placed on a school bus 1
that is designed to capture a recorded image of a driver of a motor vehicle committing a 2
violation. 3
21–707.1. 4
(b) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 5
(5) “Stop sign monitoring system” means a device designed to capture a 6
recorded image of a violation. 7
21–809. 8
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 9
(9) “Speed monitoring system” means a device with one or more motor 10
vehicle sensors producing recorded images of motor vehicles traveling at speeds at least 12 11
miles per hour above the posted speed limit. 12
21–810. 13
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 14
(7) “Work zone speed control system” means a device that: 15
(i) Has one or more motor vehicle sensors connected to a camera 16
system capable of producing recorded images of motor vehicles traveling at or abov e a 17
predetermined speed in or approaching a work zone; and 18
(ii) Is equipped with flashing blue lights. 19
SUBTITLE 8A. DANGEROUS DRIVER ABATEMENT PROGRAM. 20
21–8A–01. 21
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 22
INDICATED. 23
(B) “AUTOMATED RAILROAD GRADE CROSS ING ENFORCEMENT SYST EM” 24
HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 21–704.1 OF THIS TITLE. 25
(C) “ESSENTIAL WORKER” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 3–1701 OF THE 26
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ARTICLE. 27
4 HOUSE BILL 8
(D) “LOW–INCOME REPEAT OFFENDER” MEANS A REPEAT OFFENDER WITH 1
AN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME THAT IS AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL 2
POVERTY LEVEL. 3
(E) (1) “OWNER” MEANS: 4
(I) THE REGISTERED OWNER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE; 5
(II) A LESSEE OF A MOTOR VE HICLE UNDER A LEASE OF 6 6
MONTHS OR MORE; OR 7
(III) A PERSON WHO RENTS AND OPERAT ES A RENTAL MOTOR 8
VEHICLE. 9
(2) “OWNER” DOES NOT INCLUDE: 10
(I) A MOTOR VEHICLE RENTAL OR LEASING COMPANY; OR 11
(II) A HOLDER OF A SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATE I SSUED 12
UNDER TITLE 13, SUBTITLE 9, PART III OF THIS ARTICLE. 13
(F) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE DANGEROUS DRIVER ABATEMENT PROGRAM. 14
(G) “QR CODE” MEANS A MACHINE –READABLE CODE, CONSISTING OF AN 15
ARRAY OF SQUARES , USED FOR STORING AN INTERNET WEBSITE IN O RDER TO 16
ACCESS A WEBPAGE. 17
(H) “REPEAT OFFENDER” MEANS AN OWNER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE THAT, 18
WITHIN A 12–MONTH PERIOD, IS RECORDED BY: 19
(1) A TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGN AL MONITORING SYSTEM WHILE 20
OPERATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE IN VIOLATION OF § 21–202.1 OF THIS TITLE THREE 21
OR MORE TIMES; 22
(2) AN AUTOMATED RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING ENFORCEMENT 23
SYSTEM WHILE OPERATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE IN VIO LATION OF § 21–704.1 OF 24
THIS TITLE THREE OR MORE TIMES; 25
(3) A SCHOOL BUS MONITORIN G CAMERA WHILE OPERA TING THE 26
MOTOR VEHICLE IN VIOLATION OF § 21–706.1 OF THIS TITLE THREE OR MORE TIMES; 27
HOUSE BILL 8 5
(4) A STOP SIGN MONITORING SYSTEM WHILE OPERATI NG THE 1
MOTOR VEHICLE IN VIOLATION OF § 21–707.1 OF THIS TITLE THREE OR MORE TIMES; 2
OR 3
(5) A SPEED MONITORING SYSTEM OR WORK ZONE SPEED C ONTROL 4
SYSTEM WHILE BEING OPERATED IN VIOLATION OF SUBTITLE 8 OF THIS TITLE FIVE 5
OR MORE TIMES. 6
(I) “SCHOOL BUS MONITORING CAMERA” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 7
21–706.1 OF THIS TITLE. 8
(J) “SPEED MONITORING SYSTEM” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 21–809 9
OF THIS TITLE. 10
(K) “STOP SIGN MONITORING SYSTEM” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 11
21–707.1 OF THIS TITLE. 12
(L) “TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL MONITORING SYSTEM” HAS THE MEANING 13
STATED IN § 21–202.1 OF THIS TITLE. 14
(M) “WORK ZONE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 15
21–810 OF THIS TITLE. 16
21–8A–02. 17
(A) THERE IS A DANGEROUS DRIVER ABATEMENT PROGRAM. 18
(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE MOTOR 19
VEHICLE–RELATED DEATHS BY REQUIRING REPEAT OFFENDERS TO COMPLETE AN 20
ADMINISTRATION–APPROVED DRIVER ACCO UNTABILITY AND SAFET Y COURSE OR 21
BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS. 22
(C) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. 23
21–8A–03. 24
THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE BY MAIL AND, WHEN 25
POSSIBLE, ELECTRONICALLY TO EACH REPEAT OFFENDER OF: 26
(1) THE NUMBER AND TYPE O F EACH VIOLATION RECORDED BY A 27
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGN AL MONITORING SYSTEM , AN AUTOMATED RAILROA D 28
GRADE CROSSING ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM, A SCHOOL BUS MONITORING CAMERA, A 29
6 HOUSE BILL 8
STOP SIGN MONITORING SYSTEM, A SPEED MONITORING SYSTEM, OR A WORK ZONE 1
SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WHICH THE REPEAT OFFENDER IS LIABLE; 2
(2) THE LOCATION OF EACH VIOLATION; 3
(3) THE LOCATION OF EACH SYSTEM OR CAMERA THAT RECORDED 4
EACH VIOLATION; 5
(4) THE DATE AND TIME OF THE VIOLATIONS; 6
(5) THE REQUIREMENT TO CO MPLETE AN 7
ADMINISTRATION–APPROVED DRIVER ACCO UNTABILITY AND SAFET Y COURSE IN 8
ACCORDANCE WITH § 21–8A–04 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 9
(6) THE ADMINISTRATION–APPROVED DRIVER ACCO UNTABILITY 10
AND SAFETY COURSES AVAILABLE, INCLUDING: 11
(I) A LINK AND QR CODE FOR THE LIST OF 12
ADMINISTRATION–APPROVED DRIVER ACCO UNTABILITY AND SAFET Y COURSES 13
POSTED ON THE ADMINISTRATION’S WEBSITE; 14
(II) THE LANGUAGE IN WHICH EACH COURSE IS PROVIDED; 15
(III) WHETHER A COURSE IS IN–PERSON OR VIRTUAL; 16
(IV) THE COST OF EACH COURSE; AND 17
(V) THE DATES OF EACH COURSE; AND 18
(7) THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE 19
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBTITLE. 20
21–8A–04. 21
(A) (1) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , EACH REPEAT 22
OFFENDER SHALL SUCCE SSFULLY COMPLETE AN ADMINISTRATION–APPROVED 23
DRIVER ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY COURSE WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING 24
NOTICE UNDER § 21–8A–03 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 25
(2) (I) THE DRIVER ACCOUNTABILIT Y AND SAFETY COURSE 26
PROVIDER SHALL SUBMI T TO THE ADMINISTRATION PROOF OF A REPEAT 27
OFFENDER’S SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE COURSE , INCLUDING THE REPEAT 28
HOUSE BILL 8 7
OFFENDER’S DRIVER’S LICENSE NUMBER OR OTHER ADMINISTRATION IDENTIFIER, 1
WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE COURSE. 2
(II) A REPEAT OFFENDER MAY: 3
1. UPLOAD ON THE ADMINISTRATION’S WEBSITE PROOF 4
OF SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A DRIVER ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY COURSE; 5
OR 6
2. PROVIDE PROOF OF SUCC ESSFUL COMPLETION OF A 7
DRIVER ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY COURSE IN PERSON AT AN ADMINISTRATION 8
OFFICE. 9
(B) (1) IF A REPEAT OFFENDER FAILS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF 10
SUBSECTION (A)(1) OF THIS SECTION, THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL SUSPEND THE 11
RENEWAL OF THE REPEAT OFFENDER’S MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION UNTIL THE 12
REPEAT OFFENDER SUCC ESSFULLY COMPLETES A N ADMINISTRATION–APPROVED 13
DRIVER ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY COURSE. 14
(2) IF A REPEAT OFFENDER DOES NOT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AN 15
ADMINISTRATION–APPROVED DRIVER ACCO UNTABILITY AND SAFET Y COURSE 16
WITHIN 180 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE UNDER § 21–8A–03 OF THIS SUBTITLE, 17
THE ADMINISTRATION MAY IM POUND OR IMMOBILIZE THE REPEAT OFFENDER ’S 18
MOTOR VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPEAT O FFENDER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES AN 19
ADMINISTRATION–APPROVED DRIVER ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY COURSE. 20
(3) A SUSPENSION UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 21
SHALL BE LIFTED AUTOMATICALLY ON RECEIPT OF PROOF OF SUCCESSFUL COURSE 22
COMPLETION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (A)(2) OF THIS SECTION. 23
(C) (1) THE ADMINISTRATION MAY GR ANT A WAIVER FROM TH E 24
REQUIREMENTS OF SUBS ECTION (A)(1) OF THIS SECTION FOR A PERSON WHO 25
PROVIDES EVIDENCE THAT: 26
(I) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 27
MOTOR VEHICLE OR THE REGISTRATION PLATES OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE WERE 28
STOLEN BEFORE A VIOLATION OCCURRED AND WERE NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OR 29
POSSESSION OF THE PERSON AT THE TIME OF A VIOLATION; 30
(II) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 31
PERSON WAS NOT OPERATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF A VIOLATION; 32
OR 33
8 HOUSE BILL 8
(III) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 1
PERSON WAS NOT THE OWNER OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF A 2
VIOLATION. 3
(2) TO DEMONSTRATE THAT T HE MOTOR VEHICLE OR THE 4
REGISTRATION PLATES WERE STOLEN BEFORE A VIOLATION OCCURRED AND WERE 5
NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OR POSSESSION OF THE PERSON ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN 6
OPERATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF A VIOLATION, THE PERSON SHALL 7
SUBMIT PROOF THAT A POLICE REPORT REGARDING THE STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE 8
OR REGISTRATION PLATES WAS FILED IN A TIMELY MANNER. 9
(3) TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE PERSON ALLEGED TO HA VE BEEN 10
DRIVING THE MOTOR VE HICLE WAS NOT OPERAT ING THE MOTOR VEHICL E AT THE 11
TIME OF A VIOLATION, THE PERSON SHALL PRO VIDE TO THE ADMINISTRATION A 12
LETTER, SWORN TO OR AFFIRMED BY THE PERSON AND MAILED BY CERTIFIED MAIL, 13
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, THAT: 14
(I) STATES THAT THE PERSO N WAS NOT OPERATING THE 15
MOTOR VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE VIOLATION; AND 16
(II) INCLUDES ANY OTHER CORROBORATING EVIDENCE. 17
(4) TO DEMONSTRATE THAT T HE PERSON ALLEGED TO HA VE BEEN 18
DRIVING THE MOTOR VEHICLE WA S NOT THE OWNER OF T HE MOTOR VEHICLE AT 19
THE TIME OF A VIOLATION, THE PERSON SHALL PROVIDE TO THE ADMINISTRATION: 20
(I) A COPY OF THE TRANSFERRED TITLE OR BILL OF SALE; AND 21
(II) PROOF THAT THE REGISTRATIO N PLATES WERE 22
SURRENDERED OR THAT THE SECURITY REQUIRED UNDER TITLE 17, SUBTITLE 1 OF 23
THIS ARTICLE WAS CANCELED. 24
(D) (1) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL DEVELOP AND POST ON THE 25
ADMINISTRATION’S WEBSITE A LIST OF ADMINISTRATION–APPROVED DRIVER 26
ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY COURSES. 27
(2) THE LIST OF ADMINISTRATION–APPROVED DRIVER 28
ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY COURSES SHALL INCLUDE: 29
(I) THE LANGUAGE IN WHICH EACH COURSE IS PROVIDED; 30
(II) WHETHER A COURSE IS IN–PERSON OR VIRTUAL; 31
HOUSE BILL 8 9
(III) THE COST OF EACH COURSE; AND 1
(IV) THE DATES OF EACH COURSE. 2
(E) (1) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL PROVIDE AN OPT ION FOR 3
UPLOADING ON THE ADMINISTRATION’S WEBSITE PROOF OF S UCCESSFUL 4
COMPLETION OF A DRIVER ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY COURSE. 5
(2) THE ADMINISTRATION MAY AD OPT REGULATIONS SPEC IFYING 6
THE FILE FORMAT FOR UPLOADING MATERIALS UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 7
SUBSECTION. 8
21–8A–05. 9
(A) A LOW–INCOME REPEAT OFFENDER MAY APPLY FOR: 10
(1) A WAIVER OR REDUCTION IN ANY APPLICABLE DRIVER 11
ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY COURSE FEES; 12
(2) A FLEXIBLE PAYMENT PLAN FOR ANY APPLICABLE FINES; AND 13
(3) ACCESS TO ONLINE OR C OMMUNITY–BASED 14
ADMINISTRATION–APPROVED DRIVER ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY COURSES. 15
(B) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL ESTABLISH A HARDSHIP APPEAL 16
PROCESS FOR: 17
(1) ESSENTIAL WORKERS; AND 18
(2) INDIVIDUALS FROM HOUS EHOLDS WITH NO VIABL E TRANSIT 19
ALTERNATIVES TO A MOTOR VEHICLE. 20
21–8A–06. 21
ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31 EACH YEAR , BEGINNING IN 2028, THE 22
ADMINISTRATION SHALL PUBLISH ON ITS WEBSITE AND REPORT TO THE GENERAL 23
ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, 24
THE NUMBER OF PARTIC IPANTS IN THE PROGRAM IN THE IMMEDIATELY 25
PRECEDING YEAR, DISAGGREGATED BY RACE, INCOME, AND GEOGRAPHY. 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 27
October 1, 2026. 28