GLEN BURNIE, Md. — The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) has launched a new initiative called "Plate Where You Live," aimed at addressing the issue of Maryland residents driving vehicles with out-of-state license plates, particularly from Virginia.
As part of this campaign, the MVA is implementing stricter enforcement measures and financial penalties starting October 1. This follows a previous outreach effort in January, where warning letters were sent to around 54,000 drivers linked to nearly 80,000 vehicles that may not be properly registered.
Maryland law mandates that new residents must register their vehicles within 60 days of relocating to the state. However, the MVA has observed a significant number of residents failing to comply with this requirement.
MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer noted that concerns regarding out-of-state plates have been prevalent since at least the late 1980s, but the problem appears to be worsening.
Under the new regulations, drivers who do not register their vehicles in Maryland will incur fines of $7 per day, accumulating up to a maximum of $420. There is a notification period before fines begin, allowing drivers time to rectify their registration status.
Failure to pay these fines could lead to additional enforcement actions, including potential tag pickup orders or civil action by local authorities. Local law enforcement already has the authority to issue citations for improper vehicle registration.
To assist in enforcement, the MVA is encouraging the public to report suspected cases of improper registration. Complaints can be submitted directly to the agency, which will investigate and give individuals time to comply.
One of the reasons cited for the prevalence of Virginia plates among Maryland residents is the disparity in registration costs. Virginia charges approximately $30.75 for vehicle registration, while Maryland's fee is significantly higher at $191.50. Governor Wes Moore acknowledged the financial burden on residents but emphasized the importance of these fees for funding essential services such as road maintenance and emergency medical services.
Additionally, the MVA has indicated that other states impose additional costs like annual inspections and personal property taxes that Maryland does not charge. To ease the financial impact, customers can now opt for a one, two, or three-year vehicle registration renewal, allowing for staggered payments.
Maryland officials have also been in discussions with Virginia regarding potential changes to the latter's vehicle registration laws, which currently do not require drivers to have a Virginia address to register a vehicle there.
The MVA plans to send out another round of warning letters by the end of July, reminding drivers to register their vehicles before the increased penalties take effect in October.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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