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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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*hb1116*
HOUSE BILL 1116
E1, L2 6lr0958
By: Howard County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 3, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Howard County – Illegal Dumping – Surveillance System Pilot Program 2
Ho. Co. 6–26 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing a designated Howard County department to place certain 4
surveillance systems at certain dumping sites in Howard County; requiring the 5
District Court, in consultation with the designated Howard County department, to 6
prescribe a certain citation form; requiring the designated Howard County 7
department to mail a certain citation or warning to the owner of a motor vehicle 8
recorded by a certain surveillance system within a certain time period ; providing 9
that a person who receives a certain citation in Howard County may pay a certain 10
civil penalty or elect to stand trial in the District Court; establishing certain defenses 11
to a certain violation in Howard County; prohibiting the Motor Vehicle 12
Administration from registering or transferring the registrat ion of any vehicle 13
captured by a certain surveillance system in Howard County under certain 14
circumstances; and generally relating to the use of surveillance systems at dumping 15
sites in Howard County. 16
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 17
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 18
Section 7–302(a) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1116
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 1
Section 7–302(f) 2
Annotated Code of Maryland 3
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 4
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 5
Article – Criminal Law 6
Section 10–110(c) 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Criminal Law 11
Section 10–112 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – General Provisions 16
Section 4–322 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
Article – Transportation 21
Section 26–305(a) 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 24
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBL Y OF MARYLAND, 25
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 26
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 27
7–302. 28
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) through (g) of this section, the clerks of 29
the District Court shall: 30
(1) Collect costs, fines, forfeitures, or penalties imposed by the court; and 31
(2) Remit them to the State under a system agreed upon by the Chief Judge 32
of the District Court and the Comptroller. 33
(f) (1) (I) 1. A citation issued under § 10 –112 of the Criminal Law 34
Article IN BALTIMORE CITY shall provide that the person receiving the citation may elect 35
to stand trial by notifying the Baltimore City Department of Public Works of the person’s 36
HOUSE BILL 1116 3
intention to stand trial at least 5 days prior to the date of payment as set forth in the 1
citation. 2
2. On receipt of the notice to stand trial, the Baltimore City 3
Department of Public Works shall forward to the District Court having venue a copy of the 4
citation and a copy of the notice from the person who received the citation indicating the 5
person’s intention to stand trial. 6
3. On receipt [thereof] OF THE COPY OF THE C ITATION 7
AND COPY OF THE NOTICE, the District Court shall schedule the case for trial and notify 8
the defendant of the trial date under procedures adopted by the Chief Judge of the District 9
Court. 10
(II) 1. A CITATION ISSUED UNDE R § 10–112 OF THE 11
CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE IN HOWARD COUNTY SHALL PROVIDE THAT THE PERSON 12
RECEIVING THE CITATION MAY ELECT TO STAND TRIAL BY NOTIFYING THE DISTRICT 13
COURT OF THE PERSON’S INTENTION TO STAND TRIAL AT LEAST 5 DAYS PRIOR TO 14
THE DATE OF PAYMENT AS SET FORTH IN THE CITATION. 15
2. ON RECEIPT OF THE NOT ICE, THE DISTRICT COURT 16
SHALL SCHEDULE THE CASE FOR TRIAL AND NOTIFY THE DEFENDANT OF THE TRIAL 17
DATE UNDER PROCEDURE S ADOPTED BY THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT 18
COURT. 19
(2) A citation issued as a result of the use of a surveillance system shall 20
provide that, in an uncontested case, the penalty shall be paid directly to Baltimore City 21
OR HOWARD COUNTY, AS APPLICABLE. 22
(3) Civil penalties collected by the District Court resulting from citations 23
issued as a result of the use of a surveillance system shall be collected in accordance with 24
subsection (a) of this section and distributed to Baltimore City OR HOWARD COUNTY, AS 25
APPLICABLE. 26
Article – Criminal Law 27
10–110. 28
(c) A person may not: 29
(1) dispose of litter on a highway or perform an act that violates the State 30
Vehicle Laws regarding disposal of litter, glass, and other prohibited substances on 31
highways; or 32
(2) dispose or cause or allow the disposal of litter on public or private 33
property unless: 34
4 HOUSE BILL 1116
(i) the property is designated by the State, a unit of the State, or a 1
political subdivision of the State for the disposal of litter and the person is authorized by 2
the proper public authority to use the property; or 3
(ii) the litter is placed into a litter receptacle or container installed 4
on the property. 5
10–112. 6
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 7
(2) “Department” means: 8
(I) IN BALTIMORE CITY, the Baltimore City Department of 9
Housing and Community Development, or another department designated by the Mayor of 10
Baltimore City; OR 11
(II) IN HOWARD COUNTY, THE HOWARD COUNTY POLICE 12
DEPARTMENT OR OTHER D EPARTMENT DESIGNATED BY THE HOWARD COUNTY 13
EXECUTIVE. 14
(3) “Dumping site” means a location in Baltimore City OR HOWARD 15
COUNTY that is: 16
(i) owned by the city, HOWARD COUNTY, or the State; and 17
(ii) identified by the Department as property that has been 18
repeatedly used for the disposal of litter in violation of State law or a local law or ordinance. 19
(4) (i) “Owner” means the registered owner of a motor vehicle or a 20
lessee of a motor vehicle under a lease of 6 months or more. 21
(ii) “Owner” does not include: 22
1. a motor vehicle rental or leasing company; or 23
2. a holder of a special registration plate issued under Title 24
13, Subtitle 9, Part III of the Transportation Article. 25
(5) “Surveillance image” means an image recorded by a surveillance 26
system: 27
(i) on: 28
1. a photograph; 29
HOUSE BILL 1116 5
2. a micrograph; 1
3. an electronic image; 2
4. videotape; or 3
5. any other medium; 4
(ii) showing the front or rear of a motor vehicle, and, on at least one 5
image or portion of the tape, clearly identifying the registration plate number of the motor 6
vehicle; and 7
(iii) showing an individual committing a violation of the State illegal 8
dumping and litter control law or a local law or ordinance relating to the unlawful disposal 9
of litter. 10
(6) “Surveillance system” means a collection of one or more cameras located 11
at a dumping site that produces a surveillance image. 12
(b) This section applies to a violation of the State illegal dumping and litter 13
control law or a local law or ordinance relating to the unlawful disposal of litter that occurs 14
at a dumping site monitored by a surveillance system. 15
(c) The Department may: 16
(1) place surveillance systems at dumping sites; and 17
(2) use surveillance images to enforce the provisions of the State illegal 18
dumping and litter control law or a local law or ordinance relating to the unlawful disposal 19
of litter. 20
(d) (1) Unless the individual committing a violation received a citation from a 21
police officer at the time of the violation, the owner of the vehicle used to commit the 22
violation, or in accordance with subsection (g)(4) of this section, the individual committing 23
the violation, is subject to a civil penalty if the viol ation and the motor vehicle used to 24
commit the violation are recorded on a surveillance image by a surveillance system while 25
the individual is committing a violation of the State illegal dumping and litter control law 26
or a local law or ordinance relating to the unlawful disposal of litter. 27
(2) A civil penalty under this subsection may not exceed $1,000. 28
(3) For purposes of this section, the District Court, in consultation with the 29
Department, shall prescribe: 30
(i) a uniform citation form consistent with subsection (e)(1) of this 31
section and § 7–302 of the Courts Article; and 32
6 HOUSE BILL 1116
(ii) a civil penalty, which shall be indicated on the citation, to be paid 1
by persons who choose to prepay the civil penalty without appearing in District Court. 2
(e) (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of this 3
subsection, the Department shall mail to the owner liable under subsection (d) of this 4
section a citation that shall include: 5
(i) the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle; 6
(ii) the registration number of the motor vehicle involved in the 7
violation; 8
(iii) the violation charged; 9
(iv) the location where the violation occurred; 10
(v) the date and time of the violation; 11
(vi) a copy of the surveillance image; 12
(vii) the amount of the civil penalty imposed and the date by which 13
the civil penalty must be paid; 14
(viii) a signed statement by a duly authorized agent of the Department 15
that, based on inspection of surveillance images, the motor vehicle was being used by an 16
individual who was committing a violation of the State illegal dumping and litter control 17
law or a local law or ordinance relating to the unlawful disposal of litter; 18
(ix) a statement that surveillance images are evidence of a violation 19
of the State illegal dumping and litter control law or a local law or ordinance relating to the 20
unlawful disposal of litter; 21
(x) information advising the person alleged to be liable under this 22
section of the manner and time in which liability as alleged in the citation may be contested 23
in the District Court; and 24
(xi) information advising the person alleged to be liable under this 25
section that failure to pay the civil penalty or to contest liability in a timely manner: 26
1. is an admission of liability; 27
2. may result in the refusal by the Motor Vehicle 28
Administration to register the motor vehicle; and 29
3. may result in the suspension of the motor vehicle 30
registration. 31
HOUSE BILL 1116 7
(2) The Department may mail a warning notice instead of a citation to the 1
owner liable under subsection (d) of this section. 2
(3) Except as provided in subsection (g)(4) of this section, the Department 3
may not mail a citation to a person who is not an owner. 4
(4) Except as provided in subsection (g)(4) of this section, a citation issued 5
under this section shall be mailed no later than 2 weeks after the alleged violation. 6
(5) A person who receives a citation under paragraph (1) of this subsection 7
may: 8
(i) pay the civil penalty, in accordance with the instructions on the 9
citation, directly to Baltimore City OR HOWARD COUNTY, AS APPLICABLE; or 10
(ii) elect to stand trial in the District Court for the alleged violation. 11
(f) (1) A certificate alleging that a violation of the State illegal dumping and 12
litter control la w or a local law or ordinance relating to the unlawful disposal of litter 13
occurred, sworn to or affirmed by a duly authorized agent of the Department, based on 14
inspection of surveillance images produced by a surveillance system, shall be evidence of 15
the facts contained in the certificate and shall be admissible in a proceeding alleging a 16
violation under this section. 17
(2) Adjudication of liability shall be based on a preponderance of the 18
evidence. 19
(g) (1) The District Court may consider in defense of a violation: 20
(i) subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, that: 21
1. the motor vehicle was stolen before the violation occurred 22
and was not under the control or possession of the owner at the time of the violation; or 23
2. the registration plat es of the motor vehicle were stolen 24
before the violation occurred and were not under the control or possession of the owner at 25
the time of the violation; 26
(ii) subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, evidence that the 27
person named in the citation was not the person in the surveillance image committing the 28
violation of the State illegal dumping and litter control law or a local law or ordinance 29
relating to the unlawful disposal of litter; and 30
(iii) any other issues and evidence that the District Court deems 31
pertinent. 32
8 HOUSE BILL 1116
(2) In order to assert a defense under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection, 1
the owner shall submit proof that a police report regarding the stolen motor vehicle or 2
registration plates was filed in a timely manner. 3
(3) In order to satisfy the evidentiary burden under paragraph (1)(ii) of this 4
subsection, the person named in the citation shall provide to the District Court evidence to 5
the satisfaction of the court of the identity of the person in the surveillance image who was 6
actually committing the violation, including, at a minimum, the person’s name and current 7
address. 8
(4) (i) If the District Court finds that the person named in the citation 9
did not commit the violation or receives evidence under paragraph (3) of this subse ction 10
identifying the person who committed the violation, the clerk of the court shall provide the 11
Department with a copy of any evidence substantiating who was operating the vehicle at 12
the time of the violation. 13
(ii) On receipt of substantiating evide nce from the District Court 14
under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the Department may issue a citation as provided 15
in subsection (e) of this section to the person that the evidence indicates committed the 16
violation. 17
(iii) A citation issued under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph shall 18
be mailed no later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the evidence from the District Court. 19
(h) If the person named in the citation does not pay the civil penalty and does not 20
contest the violation, the Motor Vehicle Administration may: 21
(1) refuse to register the motor vehicle cited in the violation; or 22
(2) suspend the registration of the motor vehicle cited in the violation. 23
(i) A violation for which a civil penalty is imposed under this section: 24
(1) may not be recorded by the Motor Vehicle Administration on the driving 25
record of the owner or the driver of the motor vehicle; and 26
(2) may be treated as a parking violation for purposes of § 26 –305 of the 27
Transportation Article. 28
(j) In consultation with th e Department, the Chief Judge of the District Court 29
shall adopt procedures for the issuance of citations, the trial of civil violations, and the 30
collection of civil penalties under this section. 31
Article – General Provisions 32
4–322. 33
HOUSE BILL 1116 9
(a) In this section, “surveillance image” has the meaning stated in § 10–112 of the 1
Criminal Law Article. 2
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a custodian of a 3
surveillance image shall deny inspection of the surveillance image. 4
(c) A custodian shall allow inspection of a surveillance image: 5
(1) by any person issued a citation under § 10 –112 of the Criminal Law 6
Article, or by an attorney of record for the person; or 7
(2) by an employee or agent of the Baltimore City Department of Housing 8
and Communi ty Development OR OF THE HOWARD COUNTY DEPARTMENT 9
DESIGNATED UNDER § 10–112 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE in an investigation or 10
a proceeding relating to the imposition of or indemnification from civil liability under § 11
10–112 of the Criminal Law Article. 12
(d) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, the Baltimore City Department 13
of Housing and Community Development AND THE HOWARD COUNTY DEPARTMENT 14
DESIGNATED UNDER § 10–112 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE may publicly 15
disseminate a surveillance image as part of an investigation. 16
Article – Transportation 17
26–305. 18
(a) The Administration may not register or transfer the registration of any vehicle 19
involved in a parking violation under this subtitle, a violation under any federal parking 20
regulation that ap plies to property in this State under the jurisdiction of the U.S. 21
government, a violation of § 21–202(h) of this article as determined under § 21–202.1 of this 22
article or Title 21, Subtitle 8 of this article as determined under § 21 –809 or § 21 –810 of 23
this article, or a violation of the Illegal Dumping and Litter Control Law under § 10–110 of 24
the Criminal Law Article or a local law or ordinance adopted by Baltimore City OR 25
HOWARD COUNTY relating to the unlawful disposal of litter as determined under § 26
10–112 of the Criminal Law Article, if: 27
(1) It is notified by a political subdivision or authorized State agency that 28
the person cited for the violation under this subtitle, § 21 –202.1, § 21–809, or § 21–810 of 29
this article, or § 10–110 or § 10–112 of the Criminal Law Article has failed to either: 30
(i) Pay the fine for the violation by the date specified in the citation; 31
or 32
(ii) File a notice of his intention to stand trial for the violation; 33
10 HOUSE BILL 1116
(2) It is notified by the District Court that a person who has elected to stand 1
trial for the violation under this subtitle, under § 21 –202.1, § 21–809, or § 21 –810 of this 2
article, or under § 10–110 or § 10–112 of the Criminal Law Article has failed to appear for 3
trial; or 4
(3) It is notified by a U.S. District Court that a person cited for a violation 5
under a federal parking regulation: 6
(i) Has failed to pay the fine for the violation by the date specified 7
in the federal citation; or 8
(ii) Either has failed to file a notice of the person’s intention to stand 9
trial for the violation, or, if electing to stand trial, has failed to appear for trial. 10
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 11
1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 5 years and, at the end of Jun e 30, 2031, 12
this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 13
of no further force and effect. 14
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.