City, state lawmakers push to get illegally-registered cars off Baltimore streets
BALTIMORE -- Have you noticed more out-of-state license plate tags on the road lately?
State and local lawmakers are cracking down on out-of-state plates in Baltimore City.
"I keep wondering why there are so many of them," Baltimore resident Joyceleen Williams said.
According to Maryland law, new Maryland residents must register their cars in the state within 60 days.
However, drivers like Joyceleen Williams said they've noticed an alarming amount of tags from other states in Baltimore City, specifically Virginia plates.
"It's just gotten worse and worse," Williams said. "Started out with a few and now you can't drive or walk without seeing it."
At the Baltimore City Council's meeting Monday night, council members adopted a resolution in favor of House Bill 332, making its way through the state legislature this session.
If passed, the bill would give the city the authority to tow or impound cars with illegal tags.
Councilman Robert Stokes introduced the resolution before the City Council.
"It does not require emission testing," Stokes said. "It does not require insurance."
He says this bill would also close loopholes that allow out-of-state plate drivers to drive without proper insurance.
"If you go back and look at all the accidents happening in Baltimore, they're actually Virginia tags," Stokes. "There's a lot of illegal tags out there on the street. So, what happens when somebody doesn't have insurance? Somebody got to pay for it and our taxpayers are paying for it and that's why our insurance is going up in Baltimore City."
Williams told WJZ she's all for the legislation.
"How do they get by when everyone else has to do what they have to do to get legal insurance?" Williams said.
House Bill 332 is cross filed in the Senate.
It is scheduled to have its next hearing on March 7.
