# Transportation (GTR)

## Title 26. Vehicle Laws -- Parties and Procedure on Citation, Arrest, Trial, and Appeal

### Subtitle 3. Parking Ordinances and Regulations

#### Section 26-301

(a) In this subtitle, "officer" means a police officer or a person other than a police officer who is authorized to issue a citation for a violation of an ordinance or regulation that is adopted under this section.

(b) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, any State agency authorized by law and any political subdivision of this State may adopt ordinances or regulations that:

  (1) Regulate the parking of vehicles;

  (2) Provide for the impounding of vehicles parked in violation of the ordinances or regulations;

  (3) Regulate the towing of vehicles from publicly owned and privately owned parking lots;

  (4) Provide for the issuance of a citation by an officer for a violation of an ordinance or regulation that is adopted under this section; and

  (5) Authorize an employee or agent of the State agency or political subdivision to take possession of any registration plate described in Sec. 12-110(a)(2) of this article that is being displayed by a parked vehicle.

(b-1)

  (1) In addition to any other penalty provided for in the Maryland Vehicle Law, if the Administration has reasonable cause to believe that a motor vehicle owner is a resident of the State and has failed to properly register the motor vehicle with the Administration and display valid registration plates issued by the Administration on the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle owner is subject to a warning requiring the motor vehicle owner, within 60 days after issuance of the warning, to:

    (i) Properly register the motor vehicle with the Administration and display valid registration plates issued by the Administration on the motor vehicle; or

    (ii) Provide proof acceptable to the Administration that the motor vehicle is not required to be registered in the State.

  (2)

    (i) If the motor vehicle owner provides proof acceptable to the Administration that the motor vehicle is not required to be registered in the State, if applicable as determined by the Administration, the motor vehicle owner shall obtain and display on the motor vehicle a nonresident permit issued by the Administration.

    (ii) If the motor vehicle owner fails, within 60 days after issuance of a warning under this subsection, to properly register the motor vehicle and display valid registration plates on the motor vehicle or provide proof acceptable to the Administration that registration in the State is not required, the Administration shall begin to assess a civil fine against the motor vehicle of $7 per day for up to 60 days or until the motor vehicle is properly registered and displaying valid registration plates or the Administration determines that the motor vehicle is not subject to registration in the State, whichever occurs first.

  (3)

    (i) The Administration shall notify the appropriate local jurisdiction if a motor vehicle owner fails, within 120 days after issuance of a warning under this subsection, to properly register the motor vehicle and display valid registration plates on the motor vehicle or satisfy the Administration that the motor vehicle is not subject to registration in the State.

    (ii) The appropriate county attorney may bring a civil action in rem against a motor vehicle for which the motor vehicle owner fails under this subsection to properly register and display valid registration plates or to satisfy the Administration that the motor vehicle is not subject to registration in the State.

    (iii) In a civil action in rem brought under this subsection, the appropriate county attorney may seek immobilization of the motor vehicle by towing or removal and impoundment or by booting.

(c) A political subdivision may not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that prohibits the parking of more than one motorcycle within a space served by a single parking meter.

(d)

  (1) In this subsection, "rental vehicle" means a vehicle that is rented or leased for a period not exceeding 180 days.

  (2) If a parking citation is issued for a rental vehicle, the owner is not liable for any penalty in excess of the original fine for a parking violation unless the owner fails to pay the fine or file a notice of intention to stand trial for the violation within the time specified in a notice of the infraction mailed to the business address of the owner.

  (3) If a political subdivision or State agency receives payment for a parking violation from both the owner of the vehicle and the person who had possession of the rental vehicle at the time the parking citation was issued, the political subdivision or State agency shall reimburse the owner of the vehicle for the amount paid by the owner for the violation.

(e) Any State agency authorized by law and any political subdivision of the State may establish public outreach efforts to educate law enforcement officers, businesses, medical practitioners, and the general public as to parking laws and regulations, including:

  (1) The authority of law enforcement officers to enter private parking lots used by the public; and

  (2) Specific eligibility criteria for, and requirements for the lawful use of, special registration plates and placards issued under Title 13, Subtitle 6 of this article for individuals with disabilities.

#### Section 26-301.1

(a)

  (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

  (2) "Funding" includes any form of assurance, guarantee, grant payment, credit, tax credit, or other assistance.

  (3) "Vehicle parking facility" has the meaning stated in Sec. 4-101 of this article.

(b) A vehicle parking facility shall allow motorcycles to park in the facility, subject to the charges established by the facility, if:

  (1) The facility is owned, operated, or leased by the State or a political subdivision of the State; or

  (2) The facility receives funding from the State or a political subdivision of the State.

#### Section 26-302

(a) An officer who discovers a vehicle parked in violation of an ordinance or regulation adopted under this subtitle shall:

  (1) Deliver a citation to the driver or, if the vehicle is unattended, attach a citation to the vehicle in a conspicuous place; and

  (2) Keep a copy of the citation, bearing his certification under penalty of perjury that the facts stated in the citation are true.

(b) In the absence of the driver, the registered owner of the vehicle is presumed to be the person receiving the citation.

(c)

  (1) A citation issued under this section shall include a box that the person issued the citation may check to indicate that the registration plates cited were not issued for the vehicle described in the citation.

  (2) A political subdivision, State agency, or third-party contractor authorized to conduct parking enforcement on behalf of a political subdivision or State agency that issues a citation under this section to a person who returns the citation with the box checked as described in paragraph (1) of this subsection:

    (i) Shall verify through the Administration whether the person issued the citation should be held liable for the violation; and

    (ii) May contact the person issued the citation as part of the verification process.

  (3) After the verification process initiated under paragraph (2) of this subsection, if the political subdivision, State agency, or third-party contractor finds that the person issued the citation should not be held liable for the citation, the political subdivision, State agency, or third-party contractor shall dismiss the citation.

  (4) A person may not submit a citation with the box checked as indicated in paragraph (1) of this subsection to a political subdivision, State agency, or third-party contractor if the registration plates cited were issued for the vehicle described in the citation.

#### Section 26-303

(a)

  (1) The person receiving a citation under this subtitle shall:

    (i) Pay for the parking violation directly to the political subdivision or State agency serving the citation; or

    (ii) Elect to stand trial for the violation.

  (2) An election to stand trial shall be made by sending a notice of intention to stand trial to the political subdivision or State agency at least 5 days before the payment date specified in the citation.

(b)

  (1) If a person elects to stand trial and desires the presence at trial of the officer who issued the citation, he shall so notify the political subdivision or State agency at the time the notice of intention to stand trial is given.

  (2) If proper notification is not given, the officer need not appear at the trial, and the copy of the citation bearing the certification of the officer is prima facie evidence of the facts stated in it.

#### Section 26-304

(a) The Chief Judge of the District Court shall adopt procedures for the trial of parking violations under this subtitle.

(b) The procedures adopted under this section shall include provisions for notifying the person receiving a citation of:

  (1) The date of trial, which may not be less than 15 days from the date on which the notice of intention of the person to stand trial is received;

  (2) The place of trial; and

  (3) The time of trial.

#### Section 26-305

(a) The Administration may not register or transfer the registration of any vehicle involved in a parking violation under this subtitle, a violation under any federal parking regulation that applies to property in this State under the jurisdiction of the U.S. government, a violation of Sec. 21-202(h) of this article as determined under Sec. 21-202.1 of this article or Title 21, Subtitle 8 of this article as determined under Sec. 21-809, Sec. 21-810, or Sec. 21-810.1 of this article, or a violation of the Illegal Dumping and Litter Control Law under Sec. 10-110 of the Criminal Law Article or a local law or ordinance adopted by Baltimore City relating to the unlawful disposal of litter as determined under Sec. 10-112 of the Criminal Law Article, if:

  (1) It is notified by a political subdivision or authorized State agency that the person cited for the violation under this subtitle, Sec. 21-202.1, Sec. 21-809, Sec. 21-810, or Sec. 21-810.1 of this article, or Sec. 10-110 or Sec. 10-112 of the Criminal Law Article has failed to either:

    (i) Pay the fine for the violation by the date specified in the citation; or

    (ii) File a notice of his intention to stand trial for the violation;

  (2) It is notified by the District Court that a person who has elected to stand trial for the violation under this subtitle, under Sec. 21-202.1, Sec. 21-809, Sec. 21-810, or Sec. 21-810.1 of this article, or under Sec. 10-110 or Sec. 10-112 of the Criminal Law Article has failed to appear for trial; or

  (3) It is notified by a U.S. District Court that a person cited for a violation under a federal parking regulation:

    (i) Has failed to pay the fine for the violation by the date specified in the federal citation; or

    (ii) Either has failed to file a notice of the person's intention to stand trial for the violation, or, if electing to stand trial, has failed to appear for trial.

(b)

  (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the Administration may suspend the registration of a vehicle involved in a parking violation under this subtitle or a violation under any federal parking regulation that applies to property in this State under the jurisdiction of the U.S. government if notified in accordance with subsection (a) of this section that the violator is a chronic offender.

  (2) The Administration may adopt rules and regulations to define chronic offender and develop procedures to carry out the suspension of registration as authorized by this subsection.

(c) The Administration shall continue the suspension and refusal to register or transfer a registration of the vehicle until:

  (1) If the suspension or refusal was required under subsection (a)(1) or (b)(1) of this section, the political subdivision or State agency notifies the Administration that the charge has been satisfied;

  (2) If the suspension or refusal was required under subsection (a)(2) or (b)(1) of this section, the District Court notifies the Administration that the person cited has appeared for trial or has pleaded guilty and paid the fine for the violation; or

  (3) If the suspension or refusal was required under subsection (a)(3) or (b)(1) of this section, the U.S. District Court notifies the Administration that the charge has been satisfied.

(d) If the registration of the vehicle has been suspended in accordance with subsection (b)(1) of this section, a person may not drive the vehicle on any highway in this State.

(e) The procedures specified in this section are in addition to any other penalty provided by law for the failure to pay a fine or stand trial for a parking violation.

(f) The Administration shall adopt procedures by which the political subdivisions, State agencies, the District Court, and the U.S. District Court shall notify it of any restrictions and any rescission of restrictions placed on the registration of vehicles under this section.

(g)

  (1) In addition to any other fee or penalty provided by law, an owner of a vehicle who is denied registration of the vehicle under the provisions of this section shall pay a fee established by the Administration before renewal of the registration of the vehicle.

  (2) The fee described under paragraph (1) of this subsection:

    (i) May be distributed in part to a political subdivision acting as an agent of the Administration in the registration of a vehicle under Sec. 13-404 of this article if, based upon information provided to the Administration by the political subdivision under this section, the vehicle's prior registration was suspended or the vehicle's registration renewal was denied; and

    (ii) Except as provided under item (i) of this paragraph, shall be retained by the Administration and may not be credited to the Gasoline and Motor Vehicle Revenue Account for distribution under Sec. 8-403 or Sec. 8-404 of this article.

#### Section 26-306

Any State, county, or municipal corporation, or any of its agencies, which mistakenly or otherwise wrongfully authorizes the towing, impoundment, or storage of a privately owned motor vehicle shall reimburse the owner of the vehicle for all reasonable towing and storage costs incurred by the owner as a result of the mistaken or wrongful action.

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Md. Code Ann., Transp. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)