State Watch – July 2020

We know you don’t have time to keep up with all of the bills being considered that affect your trucking business. That’s why your Association keeps a close watch on legislative action in statehouses near you. On the following pages you will find a roundup of some significant actions from around

the country. For a complete rundown of state legislation, visit LandLine.Media.

Maryland

A new law is intended to help keep certain drivers on the road after a minor traffic violation. Red-light cameras are the focus of the effort.

Existing law in Maryland authorizes the Motor Vehicle Administration to suspend registrations for drivers who fail to pay their red-light camera tickets. In order to have a registration reactivated, the violator must pay the ticket and a $30 administrative fee.

HB46/SB177 does away with registration suspensions for lack of payment.

The new rule takes effect Oct. 1.

Mississippi

Multiple bills are of note to professional drivers.

HB1457 is intended to clarify responsibility for loss or damage to items transported by household goods carriers.

State law specifies that carriers of household goods provide “safe and adequate service, equipment and facilities” for the transportation of household goods.

The bill would add that common and contract carriers of household goods are strictly liable for the loss or damage to household goods transported.

HB1456 would authorize any law enforcement officer of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety or any enforcement officer of the Mississippi Department of Transportation to escort any vehicle designated as a super load vehicle.

The state defines super loads as any vehicle that exceeds any of the following limits: overall width of 17 feet; overall length of 120 feet; overall height of 15 feet, 7 inches; or gross weight of 189,999 pounds or more.

HB1372 would have the DPS set up for online renewals of commercial driver’s licenses.

The agency also would be responsible for uploading medical card information to the Commercial Driver License Information System within five days of receiving the updated medical information. A requirement would be included for license holders to be notified by regular mail or electronically within 24 hours of information being uploaded.

New Jersey

An effort underway at the statehouse covers trooper-issued tickets.

State law now makes available for the state’s general use all motor vehicle fines, and penalty and forfeiture revenue generated through tickets written by state troopers.

A595/S458 would give local governments more motor vehicle fine revenue. One-third of fine revenue generated through tickets issued by the state police would be routed to the municipality where the violations occurred. The other two-thirds would stay with the state.

Municipalities could use the revenue for “general municipal purposes” and to defray costs of operating municipal courts.

Ohio

One House bill would authorize townships around the state to permit police officers to patrol interstates.

Ohio law permits all township police to make arrests during traffic stops on state and national highways. Townships with a population under 50,000, however, are prohibited from traffic enforcement on the state’s interstates.

HB539 would grant authority to enforce driving rules and make arrests for townships with populations between 5,000 and 50,000.

South Dakota

A new law provides a temporary extension for expired commercial driver’s licenses in the state.

Gov. Kristi Noem previously signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in the state’s fight against the spread of the coronavirus. The order has since been extended to

Dec. 31.

SB190 gives the state Department of Public Safety authority to order the temporary extension of the expiration date for certain driver’s licenses. The new law applies to motorists and commercial drivers with licenses set to expire during the state of emergency.

The rule extends affected expiration dates for the duration of the governor’s state of emergency plus an additional 90 days.

Virginia

In effect July 1, HB1066 revises statute to remove the requirement of an audible signal by the driver of an overtaking vehicle to provide the driver of an overtaken vehicle to give way to the right. Essentially, slower drivers in the left lane of roadways will be required to move right even when they haven’t been honked at to move over. LL

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