HB 941
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
Third Reader - Revised
House Bill 941 (Delegate Wells)(By Request - Baltimore City
Administration)
Environment and Transportation Judicial Proceedings
Motor Vehicles - Speed Limits - Establishment and Enforcement
This bill authorizes Baltimore City to decrease or raise to a previously established level the
maximum speed limit on a highway under its jurisdiction without performing an
engineering and traffic investigation. The bill also prohibits a local jurisdiction from
implementing a new speed monitoring system (i.e., speed camera) to enforce speed limits
on any portion of a highway for which the speed limit has been decreased without
performing an engineering and traffic investigation.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: The bill does not directly affect State finances or operations.
Local Effect: Local government expenditures may be minimally affected, as discussed
below. Revenues are not directly affected.
Small Business Effect: None.
Analysis
Current Law: Unless there is a special danger that requires a lower speed, the maximum
lawful speeds on a State highway are (1) 15 miles per hour in alleys in Baltimore County;
(2) 30 miles per hour on all highways in a business district and on undivided highways in
a residential district; (3) 35 miles per hour on divided highways in a residential district;
(4) 50 miles per hour on undivided highways in other locations; and (5) 55 miles per hour
on divided highways in other locations. A maximum speed limit of more than
70 miles per hour may not be established on any highway in the State.
If, on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, a local authority determines that
a maximum speed is greater or less than is reasonable or safe under existing conditions on
any part of a highway in its jurisdiction, the local authority may establish a reasonable and
safe maximum speed limit for that part of the highway, which may:
 decrease the limit at an intersection;
 increase the limit in an urban district to no more than 50 miles per hour;
 decrease the speed limit in an urban district; or
 decrease the limit outside an urban district to no less than 25 miles per hour.
An engineering and traffic investigation is not required to conform a speed limit in effect
on December 31, 1974, to one of the specified speed limits established by statute.
Calvert County is authorized to decrease the maximum speed limit to no less than
15 miles per hour on Lore Road and, except for Solomons Island Road, each highway south
of Lore Road without performing an engineering and traffic investigation (regardless of
whether the highway is inside an urban district).
In school zones as designated and posted by the local authorities of any county, the county
(or any municipality within the county) may decrease the maximum speed limit to
15 miles per hour during school hours, if the county (or municipality) pays the cost of
placing and maintaining the signage.
Altered speed limits are effective when posted on appropriate signs giving notice of the
limit. Any alteration by a local authority (except in Baltimore City) of a maximum speed
limit on a part (or extension) of a State highway is not effective until approved by the
State Highway Administration.
A local authority may establish a reasonable and safe maximum speed limit for an alley if
it determines that the maximum speed limit under State law is greater than is reasonable or
safe. However, the local authority must post a speed limit on appropriate signs giving
notice of the speed limit.
Speed Monitoring Systems
Speed monitoring systems must be authorized in a local jurisdiction by the governing body
of the jurisdiction (but only after reasonable notice and a public hearing). Before activating
a speed monitoring system, a local jurisdiction must publish notice of the location of the
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speed monitoring system on its website and in a newspaper of general circulation in the
jurisdiction. In addition, the jurisdiction must also ensure that each sign that designates a
school zone is proximate to a sign that (1) indicates that speed monitoring systems are in
use in the school zone and (2) conforms with specified traffic control device standards
adopted by the State Highway Administration.
An authorizing ordinance or resolution adopted by the governing body of a local
jurisdiction must establish certain procedures related to the movement or placement of
speed monitoring systems. Specifically, if a jurisdiction moves (or places) a mobile
(or stationary) speed monitoring system to (or at) a new location, the jurisdiction may not
issue a citation for a violation recorded by that speed monitoring system (1) until signage
is installed, as specified, and (2) for at least the first 15 calendar days after the signage is
installed.
From the fines generated by a speed monitoring system, the relevant jurisdiction may
recover the costs of implementing the system and may spend any remaining balance solely
for public safety purposes, including for pedestrian safety programs.
Local Expenditures: Although Baltimore City expenditures may decrease minimally if
fewer engineering and traffic investigations are conducted as a result of the bill’s
authorization to modify speed limits as specified, the requirement related to the placement
of speed cameras may necessitate additional studies to the extent that Baltimore City (and
certain other jurisdictions) anticipates placing speed cameras on such affected highways.
As noted above, in general, a local authority must conduct a traffic and engineering
investigation in order to modify a speed limit on specified roadways. Under the bill, a local
jurisdiction is prohibited from placing a speed camera on a portion of a highway where
speed limits have been reduced without performing such an investigation. Therefore,
because most jurisdictions are generally already required to conduct an investigation in
order to lower a speed limit, this provision definitively affects Baltimore City and does not
likely affect most other jurisdictions (although Calvert County has limited authority to
decrease speed limits without performing an engineering and traffic investigation and
operates speed monitoring systems).
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: None.
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Information Source(s): Baltimore City; Maryland Department of Transportation;
Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - March 3, 2021
rh/ljm Third Reader - March 31, 2021
Revised - Amendment(s) - March 31, 2021
Analysis by: Eric F. Pierce Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
HB 941/ Page 4


Statutes affected:
Text - First - Baltimore City - Speed Limits - Establishment: 21-803 Transportation
Text - Third - Motor Vehicles - Speed Limits - Establishment and Enforcement: 21-803 Transportation, 21-809 Transportation