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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
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*sb0698*
SENATE BILL 698
R5 6lr1678
CF HB 474
By: Senator McCray
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 2, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Laws – Dangerous Accumulations of Snow and Ice – Removal From 2
Exposed Vehicle Surfaces 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from operating or towing a vehicle , subject to 4
certain exceptions, without removing making reasonable efforts to remove from 5
exposed vehicle surfaces accumulated snow and ice; prohibiting a person from 6
committing a violation of this Act that cont ributes to an accident resulting in 7
property damage or the death of or serious bodily injury to another person; and 8
generally relating to the removal of snow and ice from exposed vehicle surfaces. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Transportation 11
Section 21–1135 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
21–1135. 18
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “EXPOSED VEHICLE SURFACE” INCLUDES FOR A 19
VEHICLE: 20
2 SENATE BILL 698
(1) THE HOOD; 1
(2) THE TRUNK; 2
(3) THE WINDSHIELD; 3
(4) EACH WINDOW; 4
(5) THE ROOF; 5
(6) THE CAB OF A COMMERCIAL OR NONCOMMERCIAL TRUCK; AND 6
(7) THE TOP OF: 7
(I) A TRAILER OR SEMITRAIL ER BEING TOWED BY A MOTOR 8
VEHICLE; AND 9
(II) A COMMERCIAL TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER. 10
(B) (1) (I) A EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 11
PARAGRAPH, A PERSON MAY NOT OPERATE OR TOW A VEHICLE WITHOUT REMOVING 12
MAKING REASONABLE EF FORTS TO REMOVE FROM EXPOSED VEHICLE SURFACES, 13
BEFORE OPERATION OR TOWING, ACCUMULATED SNOW AND ICE THAT POSES A 14
THREAT TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY. 15
(II) THE PROHIBITION UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 16
PARAGRAPH DOES NOT APPLY IF COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROHIBITION WOULD: 17
1. CAUSE THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE TO VIOLATE 18
ANY LAW OR REGULATION REGARDING WORKPLACE SAFETY; OR 19
2. THREATEN THE HEALTH O R SAFETY OF THE 20
OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE. 21
(2) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , A 22
POLICE OFFICER MAY E NFORCE PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION O NLY AS A 23
SECONDARY ACTION WHE N THE POLICE OFFICER DETAINS A DRIVER OF A MOTOR 24
VEHICLE FOR A SUSPECTED VIOLATION OF ANOTHER PROVISION OF THE CODE. 25
(3) (I) A PERSON WHO IS CONVIC TED OF A VIOLATION O F 26
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION W HILE OPERATING OR TO WING A 27
NONCOMMERCIAL VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO: 28
SENATE BILL 698 3
1. FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, A FINE OF $25; 1
2. FOR A SECOND OFFENSE, A FINE OF $50; 2
3. FOR A THIRD OFFENSE, A FINE OF $100; AND 3
4. FOR A FOURTH OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, A FINE OF 4
$200. 5
(II) A PERSON WHO IS CONVIC TED OF A VIOLATION O F 6
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION W HILE OPERATING OR TO WING A 7
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO: 8
1. FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, A FINE OF $75; 9
2. FOR A SECOND OFFENSE, A FINE OF $150; 10
3. FOR A THIRD OFFENSE, A FINE OF $300; 11
4. FOR A FOURTH OFFENSE, A FINE OF $600; AND 12
5. FOR A FIFTH OR SUBSEQ UENT OFFENSE, A FINE OF 13
$1,000. 14
(III) 1. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN S UBSUBPARAGRAPH 2 OF 15
THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, EACH DAY THAT A VIOL ATION OCCURS OR CONT INUES IS A 16
SEPARATE VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION. 17
2. A PERSON MAY NOT BE FO UND TO HAVE VIOLATED 18
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION MORE THAN ONCE IN ANY 24–HOUR PERIOD. 19
(C) (1) A PERSON MAY NOT COMMIT A VIOLATION OF SUBSECTION (B)(1) 20
OF THIS SECTION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO AN AC CIDENT THAT RESULTS IN 21
PROPERTY DAMAGE OR T HE DEATH OF OR , AS DEFINED IN § 20–102 OF THIS 22
ARTICLE, SERIOUS BODILY INJURY TO ANOTHER PERSON. 23
(2) A PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPH (1) 24
OF THIS SUBSECTION IS SUBJECT TO: 25
(I) FOR A VIOLATION THAT OCCURRED WHILE OPERATING OR 26
TOWING A NONCOMMERCI AL VEHICLE, A FINE OF NOT LESS T HAN $200 AND NOT 27
MORE THAN $1,000; OR 28
4 SENATE BILL 698
(II) FOR A VIOLATION THAT OCCURRED WHILE OPERATING OR 1
TOWING A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE, A FINE OF NOT LESS T HAN $500 AND NOT MORE 2
THAN $1,500. 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 4
October 1, 2026. 5
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.