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SB 111MARYLANDSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Maryland Law Authorizes Seizure of Out-of-State Plates and Fines for Improperly Registered Vehicles

Original title: Vehicle Laws - Out-of-State Vehicles - Improper Registration

Last action · May 12, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 487Sponsor: Cory McCray

Companion · HB 212same policy, House version
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Does

Maryland enacted a law authorizing state and local agencies to seize out-of-state license plates from vehicles owned by state residents who have unpaid traffic citations, suspended licenses, or long-term registration suspensions, effective October 1, 2026. The legislation establishes a 60-day compliance warning process for improperly registered vehicles, imposes a $7 daily civil fine for non-compliance, and allows county state's attorneys to seek vehicle immobilization or impoundment.

Why it matters

Maryland residents who keep vehicles registered in other states while living in Maryland face new daily fines of $7, potential license plate seizure by state and local agents, and civil vehicle immobilization or towing if they fail to register their vehicles within 60 days of receiving a warning.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Maryland Residents with Out-of-State Registrations

Vehicle owners residing in Maryland who maintain out-of-state registrations face warnings, daily civil fines, plate confiscation, and potential vehicle impoundment.

Directly affected

Title Service Agents

Title service agents are prohibited from selling or facilitating out-of-state registrations to state residents, with mandatory license suspension for violations.

Directly affected

Motor Vehicle Administration

The Administration is granted expanded authority to seize plates, enter reciprocal enforcement agreements, assess civil fines, and suspend licenses.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a Maryland resident uses out-of-state plates while living in the state?
If the owner has been a resident for more than 60 days and has unpaid traffic citations, a suspended license, or a suspended registration, state or local agents may seize the registration plates. Additionally, owners receive a warning giving them 60 days to properly register or prove exemption, after which they face $7 daily fines and potential vehicle impoundment.
Can title service agents sell out-of-state registrations to Maryland residents?
No. The law expressly prohibits s and their employees from selling, offering for sale, advertising, or facilitating the sale of out-of-state motor vehicle registrations to state residents.
Are out-of-state trailers required to be registered in Maryland?
No. Trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers that display valid registration issued by another jurisdiction are exempt from Maryland registration requirements.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

18 actions
  1. May 12, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolled
    Approved by the Governor - Chapter 487
  2. Apr 13, 2026SenateFloor
    Passed Enrolled
  3. Apr 13, 2026SenateFloor
    Third Reading Passed (46-0)
  4. Apr 13, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate Concurs House Amendments
  5. Apr 13, 2026HouseFloor
    Third Reading Passed with Amendments (117-20)
  6. Apr 13, 2026House
    Floor Committee Amendment { 953523/1 Adopted
Show 12 earlier actions
  1. Apr 10, 2026HouseFloor
    Second Reading Passed with Amendments
  2. Apr 10, 2026House
    Favorable with Amendments { 653229/1 Adopted
  3. Apr 10, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation
  4. Mar 25, 2026House
    Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m.
  5. Mar 20, 2026HouseCommittee
    Referred Environment and Transportation
  6. Mar 19, 2026SenateFloor
    Third Reading Passed (45-0)
  7. Mar 18, 2026SenateFloor
    Second Reading Passed with Amendments
  8. Mar 18, 2026Senate
    Favorable with Amendments { 463020/1 Adopted
  9. Mar 16, 2026SenateCommittee
    Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
  10. Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroduced
    First Reading Judicial Proceedings
  11. Jan 13, 2026Senate
    Hearing 1/20 at 1:00 p.m.
  12. Sep 4, 2025SenateIntroduced
    Pre-filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Cory McCraySenate · District 45DemocraticSponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Expanded Plate Confiscation Authority

The legislation shifts enforcement capability by allowing local agency employees and state agents to actively seize out-of-state plates from parked vehicles under specific infraction criteria.

Motor Vehicle Administration

Connected Entities

Wes Moore, Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Port Administration and 1 more
PersonWes Moore“Governor of Maryland approving the bill”Map →
OrganizationMotor Vehicle Administration“State agency authorized to take possession of registration plates and enforce ve”Map →
OrganizationMaryland Port Administration“Mentioned in relation to maritime commerce vehicle exemptions”Map →
PersonCory McCray“Primary sponsor of Senate Bill 111”Map →

Sources

Open source document

mgaleg.maryland.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz35
    Current news / social attention level

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