EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LA W.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0525*
SENATE BILL 525
E1 5lr1703
By: Senators Charles, Muse, Kramer, Ellis, and Rosapepe
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Illegal Dumping and Litter Control Law – Video Evidence and Reward 2
Programs 3
FOR the purpose of requiring each county to establish a certain program allowing a member 4
of the public to submit video evidence of an alleged violation of the Illegal Dumping 5
and Litter Control Law to a certain enforcement unit; requiring a program 6
established under this Act to allow a member of the public to receive a portion of 7
fines collected in relation to a violation of the Illegal Dumping and Litter Control 8
Law under certain circumstances; and generally relating to illegal dumping and 9
litter control video evidence and reward programs. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Criminal Law 12
Section 10–110(a)(1) and (4), (c), and (f)(1) and (2) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16
Article – Criminal Law 17
Section 10–110(i) and (k) 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
BY adding to 21
Article – Criminal Law 22
Section 10–110(k) 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 25
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 26
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 27 2 SENATE BILL 525
Article – Criminal Law 1
10–110. 2
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
(4) “Litter” means all rubbish, waste matter, refuse, garbage, trash, debris, 4
dead animals, or other discarded materials of every kind and description. 5
(c) A person may not: 6
(1) dispose of litter on a highway or perform an act that violates the State 7
Vehicle Laws regarding disposal of litter, glass, and other prohibited substances on 8
highways; or 9
(2) dispose or cause or allow the disposal of litter on public or private 10
property unless: 11
(i) the property is designated by the State, a unit of the State, or a 12
political subdivision of the State for the disposal of litter and the person is authorized by 13
the proper public authority to use the property; or 14
(ii) the litter is placed into a litter receptacle or container installed 15
on the property. 16
(f) (1) A person who violates this section is subject to the penalties provided 17
in this subsection. 18
(2) (i) A person who disposes of litter in violation of this section in an 19
amount not exceeding 100 pounds or 27 cubic feet and not for commercial gain is guilty of 20
a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or a 21
fine not exceeding $1,500 or both. 22
(ii) A person who disposes of litter in violation of this section in an 23
amount exceeding 100 pounds or 27 cubic feet, but not exceeding 500 pounds or 216 cubic 24
feet, and not for commercial gain is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to 25
imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $12,500 or both. 26
(iii) A person who disposes of litter in violation of this section in an 27
amount exceeding 500 pounds or 216 cubic feet or in any amount for commercial gain is 28
guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 5 years 29
or a fine not exceeding $30,000 or both. 30
(i) (1) Fines collected for violations of this section shall be disbursed: 31
SENATE BILL 525 3
(i) to the county or municipal corporation where the violation 1
occurred; or 2
(ii) if the bi–county unit is the enforcement unit and the violations 3
occurred on property over which the bi–county unit exercises jurisdiction, to the bi–county 4
unit. 5
(2) Fines collected shall be used to pay for: 6
(I) litter receptacles and posting signs as required by subsection (h) 7
of this section and for other purposes relating to the removal or control of litter; AND 8
(II) REWARDS TO MEMBERS O F THE PUBLIC WHO SUB MIT VIDEO 9
EVIDENCE THROUGH A PROGRAM ESTABLISHE D UNDER SUBSECTION (K) OF THIS 10
SECTION. 11
(K) EACH COUNTY SHALL EST ABLISH A PROGRAM ALL OWING A MEMBER OF 12
THE PUBLIC TO: 13
(1) SUBMIT VIDEO EVIDENC E OF AN ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THIS 14
SECTION TO AN ENFORC EMENT UNIT WITH JURI SDICTION; AND 15
(2) RECEIVE “HALF THE TOTAL AMOUN T” OF ANY FINES COLLECT ED 16
IN RELATION TO THE V IOLATION IF THE VIDE O EVIDENCE LEADS TO A CONVICTION 17
UNDER THIS SECTION . 18
[(k)] (L) This section may be cited as the “Illegal Dumping and Litter Control 19
Law”. 20
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 21
October 1, 2025. 22