Transportation (Roads & Highways)

HB 668 prohibits people from standing in roadways, shoulders, median dividers, or intersections in St. Mary’s County that are officially designated as "inherently dangerous" (meaning they pose a serious, unmitigable injury risk to pedestrians or drivers). It specifically requires county or municipal authorities to identify such locations and install required warning signs meeting state traffic control standards before police can issue citations for violations. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to St. Mary’s County. It does not create new penalties but limits enforcement to areas with proper signage.

This bill requires Maryland's State Highway Administration to approve, deny, or return speed monitoring system applications within 90 days. If the Administration fails to act within this timeframe, the application is automatically approved. It directly affects counties seeking to install speed monitoring systems on state highways within municipal areas, mandating they first obtain the Administration's approval and notify local municipalities. The bill also defines "speed monitoring systems" as devices capturing images of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by at least 12 mph. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

SB 179 requires Maryland's Department of Transportation to study speed limits at state highways connecting to Interstate 495. The study will analyze traffic congestion, speeding tickets, accidents, and other hazards from the past five years at these connections, and examine whether reducing speed limit deviations to 5 mph is feasible. It must consult with local officials and stakeholders, then report findings to the Governor and legislature by December 31, 2026. The bill expires automatically on June 30, 2027, with no immediate policy changes.