Marylanders with out-of-state plates could face new penalties

Maryland residents who haven’t registered their vehicles in the state have until the end of September to avoid new penalties and enforcement actions for not updating their license plates.

The Motor Vehicle Administration mailed 77,800 courtesy letters to residents who had their vehicles registered with out-of-state-plates.

Most of those letters went to residents in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore suburbs, according to a breakdown The Herald-Mail requested from the MVA.

The MVA launched a Plate Where You Live campaign this summer to educate Maryland residents with out-of-state license plates about residency requirements and complying with a new law passed this spring, according to an MVA news release.

“In addition to our extensive outreach to customers, we are working alongside law enforcement and local government partners to ensure Maryland residents understand the law and assist customers who need to come into compliance,” MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer said in the release. “We encourage vehicle owners to take action now, ahead of October 1. If they need assistance, our team is ready to help.”

The state legislature passed a law in the spring that allows authorities to take possession of some vehicle registration plates under certain circumstances.

The new enforcement measures call for a written warning regarding vehicles with out-of-state tags, giving the vehicle’s owner 60 days to get their vehicle into compliance or apply for proper exemptions, according to the MVA’s website.

After 60 days, the vehicle owner can be fined $7 a day for up to 60 days. That’s up to a $420 fine.

If the vehicle still hasn’t been properly registered after 120 days, local jurisdictions can bring civil action that can include towing, impounding and/or booting the vehicle.

“Law enforcement agencies across the state commonly encounter vehicles owned by Maryland residents that are registered out of state to avoid taxes, insurance requirements, or safety regulations. This practice complicates enforcement efforts,” according to a letter the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA) and Maryland Sheriffs’ Association submitted in support of the legislation.

“By establishing a uniform statewide process, this legislation provides clarity for motorists and consistency for law enforcement agencies,” the letter states.

The Maryland Department of Transportation did not take a position on the proposed legislation during the General Assembly’s session earlier this year, according to a letter submitted by Nizer and Matthew Mickler, the transportation department’s director of government affairs.

However, their letter states:

“Improper vehicle registration is not a victimless practice and represents a significant problem for the State of Maryland and its residents. Motor vehicle registration and miscellaneous vehicle fees account for 17% of the Transportation Trust Fund’s (TTF) revenue, which funds critical infrastructure projects throughout the State. In addition, improperly registered vehicles create the risk that these vehicles may not carry minimum insurance coverage, participate in the vehicle emissions inspection program, nor comply with automated traffic citations. Addressing this issue is an important topic for ensuring the health of the TTF, compliance with clean air standards, and the safety and quality of life in Maryland.”

Once a vehicle previously registered in another state is titled and registered in Maryland, an emissions testing date will be assigned with testing due about four months after the vehicle registration is complete, an MVA spokesperson wrote in an email to The Herald-Mail, citing Maryland regulations. After that initial testing, the vehicle will be scheduled for emissions testing every two years.

Vehicle emissions testing is required in 13 counties and Baltimore City. The counties are Washington, Frederick, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Queen Anne’s.

Marylanders with out-of-state plates can make an appointment online through the MVA website to get a title and registration for their vehicle. The process includes a pre-application listing information vehicle owners will need. That info includes the vehicle’s vehicle identification number, current odometer reading, the current tag, license and insurance information and more.

A Maryland safety inspection also is required for the vehicle.

How many MVA letters went to each Maryland jurisdiction?

Here is how the courtesy letters to residents, who had their vehicles registered with out-of-state-plates, broken down by jurisdiction:

• Prince George’s County: 26,560
• Baltimore City: 17,903
• Baltimore County: 10,331
• Montgomery County: 4,841
• Anne Arundel County: 4,178
• Charles County: 4,120
• Howard County: 1,745
• Harford County: 1,340
• Wicomico County: 1,247
• St. Mary’s County: 1,199
• Frederick County: 733
• Calvert County: 706
• Worcester County: 703
• Washington County: 493
• Somerset County: 459
• Dorchester County: 271
• Carroll County: 222
• Cecil County: 173
• Caroline County: 166
• Queen Anne’s County: 145
• Talbot County: 103
• Allegany County: 94
• Kent County: 47
• Garrett County: 21

Reporting by Julie E. Greene, The Herald-Mail / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.