Residents of this state must be aware of new fines and license sanctions that have gone into place this month with the passing of this new law. This month, massive changes occurred in one state, whereby over 400 laws were updated. As part of this massive reboot, a significant number of traffic laws were included. These changes are intended to continue to ensure that all road users continue to remain safe on the roads, and that those who continue to endanger road users’ lives are convicted accordingly.
Keeping all road users safe with new penalties
This year, a significant number of states have updated their road traffic laws and policies to include harsher penalties and convictions should you not adhere to them. From increased fines, license sanctions and suspensions, and jail time convictions, these widespread changes are intended to deter drivers from unlawful driving practices.
Speeding and distracted driving have been particularly targeted by authorities. According to data by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding accounted for approximately one-third of all road traffic-related fatalities. As such, it is a significant concern for authorities to eliminate this driving behavior. While any increase in speeding is positively correlated with an increased risk of a road accident, targeting excessive speeding is a particular concern for authorities.
“The most serious consequences of speeding are the fatalities and serious injuries that result from crashes,” describes the US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administraton on its website. “Over the last ten years, speeding has been consistently identified as a contributing factor in nearly one-third of all roadway fatalities nationwide.”
Increased fines and license sanctions for drivers in this state
October saw over 400 new laws take effect in Maryland, whereby 849 bills were passed in the General Assembly. New traffic laws as part of these sweeping updates includes harsher speeding fines as well as updates pertaining to license sanctions and suspensions. In an official statement from the Government of Maryland, new speeding laws that took effect this month include the following:
- ‘Reckless driving’ carries a conviction of fines up to $1,000 and/or 60 days’ worth of jail time.
- ‘Negligent driving’ carries a conviction of fines worth up to $750.
On top of these new penalties, SB207 went into effect, which describes the following regarding license suspensions of impaired drivers:
“Requires the Motor Vehicle Administration to revoke the driver’s license of a person who has been convicted of impaired driving that contributes to an accident, or fails to remain at the scene of an accident, that results in the death or life-threatening injury to another person and authorizes a person whose driver’s license is revoked under the Act or for homicide by motor vehicle while impaired to apply for license reinstatement after a certain period of time.”
Traffic laws to be implemented using this technology
With the widespread implementation of new traffic laws in both Maryland and across the country, authorities are increasingly relying on the assistance of automated camera technology to catch drivers who continue to break road laws. While locations such as New York City have been advancing this technology extensively, others are only just beginning to pass legislation that will allow authorities to start piloting this technology.
Minneapolis recently launched its pilot automated camera technology program, which saw the installation of these cameras across five locations, with plans to expand to 42 by the end of July 2029. Drivers who are caught by these cameras committing a first-time speeding offence will initially be issued a warning. Thereafter, fines will increase to $40 if you are caught driving 10mph over the speed limit. You will have to pay an $80 fine if you are convicted of speeding 20mph or more over the speed limit.
