HB 420, a bill that allows the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) to collect unpaid tolls, passed the Maryland General Assembly on April 5. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley signed the bill into law on April 9.

The new law is effective beginning July 1 and applies to any previously incurred toll that remains unpaid on July 1.

The law requires the MDTA to first send a notice of the toll due to the registered owner of a motor vehicle. If the toll is unpaid after 30 days, the MDTA will issue a $50 civil citation.

Failure to pay the citation or contest it in District Court may lead to the vehicle’s registration being flagged for nonrenewal or for suspension.

HB 420 also allows the MDTA to enter agreements with other states to pursue out-of-state violators.

Before the new law passed, the tolling authority would not suspend registration for nonpayment of tolls because the law was not enforced as written.

The bill was first introduced in January to decrease the number of unpaid tolls.