Vehicle Laws - Dangerous Accumulations of Snow and Ice - Removal From Exposed Vehicle Surfaces (Clear Before You Drive Act), the official text

WES MOORE, Governor         Ch. 668

Chapter 668

                             (House Bill 474)

AN ACT concerning

    Vehicle Laws – Dangerous Accumulations of Snow and Ice – Removal From
                                          Exposed Vehicle Surfaces

                                        (Clear Before You Drive Act)

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from operating or towing a vehicle, subject to
         certain exceptions, without removing making reasonable efforts to remove from
         exposed vehicle surfaces accumulated snow and ice; prohibiting a person from
         committing a violation of this Act that contributes to an accident resulting in
         property damage or the death of or serious bodily injury to another person; and
         generally relating to the removal of snow and ice from exposed vehicle surfaces.

BY adding to
         Article – Transportation
         Section 21–1135
         Annotated Code of Maryland
         (2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)

         SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

             Article – Transportation

21–1135.

        (A) IN THIS SECTION, “EXPOSED VEHICLE SURFACE” INCLUDES FOR A
VEHICLE:

             (1) THE HOOD;

             (2) THE TRUNK;

             (3) THE WINDSHIELD;

             (4) EACH WINDOW;

             (5) THE ROOF;

             (6) THE CAB OF A COMMERCIAL OR NONCOMMERCIAL TRUCK; AND

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Ch. 668  2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND

         (7) THE TOP OF:

                         (I) A TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER BEING TOWED BY A MOTOR
VEHICLE; AND

         (II) A COMMERCIAL TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER.

        (B) (1) (I) A EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS
PARAGRAPH, A PERSON MAY NOT OPERATE OR TOW A VEHICLE WITHOUT REMOVING
MAKING REASONABLE EFFORTS TO REMOVE FROM EXPOSED VEHICLE SURFACES,
BEFORE OPERATION OR TOWING, ACCUMULATED SNOW AND ICE THAT POSES A
THREAT TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY.

                         (II) THE PROHIBITION UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS
PARAGRAPH DOES NOT APPLY IF COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROHIBITION WOULD:

                                 1. CAUSE THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE TO VIOLATE
ANY LAW OR REGULATION REGARDING WORKPLACE SAFETY; OR

                                 2. THREATEN THE HEALTH OR SAFETY OF THE
OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE.

                (2) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION, A
POLICE OFFICER MAY ENFORCE PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION ONLY AS A

SECONDARY ACTION WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER DETAINS A DRIVER OF A MOTOR

VEHICLE FOR A SUSPECTED VIOLATION OF ANOTHER PROVISION OF THE CODE.

                (3) (I) A PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION WHILE OPERATING OR TOWING A
NONCOMMERCIAL VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO:

         1. FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, A FINE OF $25;

         2. FOR A SECOND OFFENSE, A FINE OF $50;

         3. FOR A THIRD OFFENSE, A FINE OF $100; AND

         4. FOR A FOURTH OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, A FINE OF

$200.

                         (II) A PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION WHILE OPERATING OR TOWING A
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO:

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         WES MOORE, Governor                       Ch. 668

         1. FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, A FINE OF $75;

         2. FOR A SECOND OFFENSE, A FINE OF $150;

         3. FOR A THIRD OFFENSE, A FINE OF $300;

         4. FOR A FOURTH OFFENSE, A FINE OF $600; AND

         5. FOR A FIFTH OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, A FINE OF

$1,000.

                         (III) 1. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSUBPARAGRAPH 2 OF
THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, EACH DAY THAT A VIOLATION OCCURS OR CONTINUES IS A
SEPARATE VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION.

                                 2. A PERSON MAY NOT BE FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION MORE THAN ONCE IN ANY 24–HOUR PERIOD.

        (C) (1) A PERSON MAY NOT COMMIT A VIOLATION OF SUBSECTION (B)(1)

OF THIS SECTION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO AN ACCIDENT THAT RESULTS IN

PROPERTY DAMAGE OR THE DEATH OF OR, AS DEFINED IN § 20–102 OF THIS
ARTICLE, SERIOUS BODILY INJURY TO ANOTHER PERSON.

                (2) A PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPH (1)
OF THIS SUBSECTION IS SUBJECT TO:

                         (I) FOR A VIOLATION THAT OCCURRED WHILE OPERATING OR
TOWING A NONCOMMERCIAL VEHICLE, A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN $200 AND NOT
MORE THAN $1,000; OR

                         (II) FOR A VIOLATION THAT OCCURRED WHILE OPERATING OR
TOWING A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE, A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN $500 AND NOT MORE
THAN $1,500.

         SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2026.

Approved by the Governor, May 26, 2026.

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