EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0947*
SENATE BILL 947
R1 EMERGENCY BILL 2lr3170
CF 2lr3192
By: Senator Hershey
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2022
Assigned to: Rules
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Transportation – Electronic Toll Collection Backlog – Fee Prohibition 2
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the Maryland Transportation Authority from charging an 3
administrative fee or a civil penalty for failure to pay certain video tolls until a 4
certain number of days after the Authority has eliminated the toll charge backlog; 5
requiring the Authority to reimburse the registered owner of a motor vehicle that 6
incurred a certain video toll in the amount of any paid administrative fees or civil 7
penalties; applying this Act retroactively; and generally relating to video tolls for 8
which processing was paused or billing was deferred due to certain factors. 9
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GE NERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
That: 11
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 12
(2) “Authority” means the Maryland Transportation Authority. 13
(3) “Toll charge backlog” means the tolls for passage of a motor vehicle 14
through a toll collection facility for which processing was paused or billing was deferred 15
due to COVID–19–related or other factors for which the Authority is responsible. 16
(4) “Video toll” has the meaning stated in § 21–1414 of the Transportation 17
Article. 18
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for a video toll for which 19
processing was paused or billing was deferred due to COVID–19–related factors or factors 20
for which the Authority is responsible, the Authority may not charge an administrative fee 21
or a civil penalty for failure to pay until 180 days after the Authority has eliminated the 22
toll charge backlog. 23
2 SENATE BILL 947
(c) The Authority shall reimburse the registered owner of a motor vehicle that 1
incurred a video toll for which processing was paused or billing was deferred due to 2
COVID–19–related or other factors for which the Authority is responsible the amount of 3
any administrative fees or civil penalties paid by the registered owner. 4
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be construed to 5
apply retroactively and shall be applied to and interpreted to affect any video toll incurred 6
on or after March 5, 2020, for which processing was paused or billing was deferred due to 7
COVID–19–related or other factors for which the Maryland Transportation Authority is 8
responsible. 9
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 10
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 11
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 12
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 13
enacted. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years from the date it is enacted and, at 14
the end of the 2–year period, this Act, with no further action required by the General 15
Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 16