Senator Cheryl Kagan asked the Judicial Proceedings Committee to approve SB322, a narrow bill that would make it unlawful to “obscure or modify any vehicle registration plate in a manner that may prevent identification.” She told the committee the change was a practical road‑safety measure to let automated systems and human enforcement read plates used for tolling, Amber/Silver alerts, or other identification needs.

Nut graf: The Maryland Transportation Authority supported the bill, citing lost toll revenue and operating difficulty when plates are obscured or altered; law‑enforcement chiefs backed the measure as a straightforward public‑safety and operational fix, and committee members pressed for clarity about common plate frames and vendor contract terms.

Heather Coberly, director of EZPass operations at the Maryland Transportation Authority, said advances in automated imaging have made consistent, legible plates essential for toll collection and enforcement. She said MDTA’s contractors identified more than 388,000 obscured plates in 2022 and 2023 and argued the bill would help ensure motorists “pay their fair share” and reduce lost revenue. David Morrison, a local police chief, also urged a favorable vote.

Several senators asked about incidental obscuring — for example, decorative plate frames for sports teams — and whether the bill would criminalize common frames. Senator Kagan said she and MDTA would confirm whether earlier House language addressing frames should be added and that many other states have similar laws. Committee members asked MDTA to compare earlier house/house‑file language and for counsel to confirm enforcement, vendor contract and privacy implications.

Ending: The committee took testimony and asked technical follow‑up but did not vote. Sponsors and transportation officials said they will provide amended language or additional clarifications on frames and vendor contracts before the next committee action.