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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0474*
HOUSE BILL 474
R5 6lr0831
CF SB 698
By: Delegates Patterson, Korman, Harrison, and Turner Turner, Allen, Behler,
Foley, Lewis, T. Morgan, Odom, Stein, and Ziegler
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 22, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Laws – Dangerous Accumulations of Snow and Ice – Removal From 2
Exposed Vehicle Surfaces 3
(Clear Before You Drive Act) 4
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from operating or towing a vehicle , subject to 5
certain exceptions, without removing making reasonable efforts to remove from 6
exposed vehicle surfaces accumulated snow and ice; prohibiting a person from 7
committing a violation of this Act that contributes to an accident resulting in 8
property damage or the death of or serious bodily injury to anoth er person; and 9
generally relating to the removal of snow and ice from exposed vehicle surfaces. 10
BY adding to 11
Article – Transportation 12
Section 21–1135 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – Transportation 18
21–1135. 19
2 HOUSE BILL 474
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “EXPOSED VEHICLE SURF ACE” INCLUDES FOR A 1
VEHICLE: 2
(1) THE HOOD; 3
(2) THE TRUNK; 4
(3) THE WINDSHIELD; 5
(4) EACH WINDOW; 6
(5) THE ROOF; 7
(6) THE CAB OF A COMMERCIAL OR NONCOMMERCIAL TRUCK; AND 8
(7) THE TOP OF: 9
(I) A TRAILER OR SEMITRAIL ER BEING TOWED BY A MOTOR 10
VEHICLE; AND 11
(II) A COMMERCIAL TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER. 12
(B) (1) (I) A EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 13
PARAGRAPH, A PERSON MAY NOT OPERATE OR TOW A VEHICLE WITHOUT REMOVING 14
MAKING REASONABLE EF FORTS TO REMOVE FROM EXPOSED VEHICLE SURFACES, 15
BEFORE OPERATION OR TOWING, ACCUMULATED SNOW AND ICE THAT POSES A 16
THREAT TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY. 17
(II) THE PROHIBITION UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 18
PARAGRAPH DOES NOT APPLY IF COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROHIBITION WOULD: 19
1. CAUSE THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE TO VIOLATE 20
ANY LAW OR REGULATION REGARDING WORKPLACE SAFETY; OR 21
2. THREATEN THE HEALTH O R SAFETY OF THE 22
OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE. 23
(2) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , A 24
POLICE OFFICER MAY E NFORCE PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION O NLY AS A 25
SECONDARY ACTION WHE N THE POLICE OFFICER DETAINS A DRIVER OF A MOTOR 26
VEHICLE FOR A SUSPECTED VIOLATION OF ANOTHER PROVISION OF THE CODE. 27
HOUSE BILL 474 3
(3) (I) A PERSON WHO IS CONVIC TED OF A VIOLATION O F 1
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION W HILE OPERATING OR TO WING A 2
NONCOMMERCIAL VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO: 3
1. FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, A FINE OF $25; 4
2. FOR A SECOND OFFENSE, A FINE OF $50; 5
3. FOR A THIRD OFFENSE, A FINE OF $100; AND 6
4. FOR A FOURTH OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, A FINE OF 7
$200. 8
(II) A PERSON WHO IS CONVIC TED OF A VIOLATION O F 9
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION WHILE OPERATING OR T OWING A 10
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO: 11
1. FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, A FINE OF $75; 12
2. FOR A SECOND OFFENSE, A FINE OF $150; 13
3. FOR A THIRD OFFENSE, A FINE OF $300; 14
4. FOR A FOURTH OFFENSE, A FINE OF $600; AND 15
5. FOR A FIFTH OR SUBSEQ UENT OFFENSE, A FINE OF 16
$1,000. 17
(III) 1. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSUBPARAGRAPH 2 OF 18
THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, EACH DAY THAT A VIOL ATION OCCURS OR CONT INUES IS A 19
SEPARATE VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 20
2. A PERSON MAY NOT BE FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED 21
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION MORE THAN ONCE IN ANY 24–HOUR PERIOD. 22
(C) (1) A PERSON MAY NOT COMMIT A VIOLATION OF SUBSECTION (B)(1) 23
OF THIS SECTION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO AN AC CIDENT THAT RESULTS IN 24
PROPERTY DAMAGE OR T HE D EATH OF OR , AS DEFINED IN § 20–102 OF THIS 25
ARTICLE, SERIOUS BODILY INJURY TO ANOTHER PERSON. 26
(2) A PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPH (1) 27
OF THIS SUBSECTION IS SUBJECT TO: 28
4 HOUSE BILL 474
(I) FOR A VIOLATION THAT OCCURRED WHILE OPERATING OR 1
TOWING A NONCOMMERCIAL VEHI CLE, A FINE OF NOT LESS T HAN $200 AND NOT 2
MORE THAN $1,000; OR 3
(II) FOR A VIOLATION THAT OCCURRED WHILE OPERATING OR 4
TOWING A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE, A FINE OF NOT LESS T HAN $500 AND NOT MORE 5
THAN $1,500. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 7
October 1, 2026. 8
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.