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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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*hb0591*
HOUSE BILL 591
R5 6lr2000
CF SB 367
By: Delegates Beauchamp, Adams, Arentz, Hartman, Hutchinson, and
Sample–Hughes
Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Wicomico County – Highway Pedestrian Safety Act 2
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person in Wicomico County from standing in a roadway, 3
shoulder, median divide, or intersection determined by the county or a municipal 4
corporation in the county in certain manners to be inherently dangerous; prohibiting 5
a p olice officer from issuing a citation for a violation of this Act unless certain 6
conditions are met; and generally relating to prohibiting standing in inherently 7
dangerous roadways, shoulders, median dividers, or intersections in Wicomico 8
County. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Transportation 11
Section 21–507.1 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Transportation 17
21–507.1. 18
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY IN WICOMICO COUNTY. 19
2 HOUSE BILL 591
(B) IN THIS SECTION , “INHERENTLY DANGEROUS ” MEANS POSING A 1
SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY TO A PEDESTRIAN, A DRIVER OR PASSENGER IN A VEHICLE, 2
OR OTHER PERSONS THA T CANNOT BE MITIGATE D WITH THE EXERCISE OF 3
ORDINARY CARE. 4
(C) (1) A SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, A PERSON 5
MAY NOT STAND IN A R OADWAY, SHOULDER, MEDIAN DIVIDER, OR INTERSECTION 6
DETERMINED BY THE CO UNTY OR A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION IN THE C OUNTY TO 7
BE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS. 8
(2) THE COUNTY OR A MUNIC IPAL CORPORATION IN THE COUNTY 9
SHALL MAKE A DETERMI NATION ON WHETHER A STATE ROADWAY , SHOULDER, 10
MEDIAN DIVIDER , OR INTERSECTION IS I NHERENTLY DANGEROUS IN 11
CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION. 12
(D) (1) A POLICE OFFICER MAY NOT ISSUE A CITATION FOR A VIOLATION 13
OF THIS SECTION UNLESS: 14
(1) (I) THE INHERENTLY DANGERO US ROADWAY , SHOULDER, 15
MEDIAN DIVIDER, OR INTERSECTION HAS APPROPRIATE SIGNS INSTALLED BY THE 16
COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION THAT NOTIFY THE PUBL IC THAT A PERSON 17
MAY NOT STAND IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION; AND 18
(2) (II) THE SIGNS ARE INSTALLED IN ACCORDA NCE WITH THE 19
MANUAL AND SPECIFICA TIONS FOR A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF TRAFFIC CO NTROL 20
DEVICES ADOPTED BY THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION UNDER § 25–104 OF 21
THIS ARTICLE. 22
(2) ON A STATE HIGHWAY , THE COUNTY OR A MUNI CIPAL 23
CORPORATION IN THE C OUNTY MAY INSTALL TH E SIGNS REQUIRED UND ER 24
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION O NLY WITH THE APPROVA L OF THE STATE 25
HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION. 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 27
1, 2026. 28