MD HB81

Police officers must document all reasons for a traffic stop on any citation or police report resulting from the stop

Evidence obtained during a traffic stop conducted in violation of required procedures may now be excluded in court proceedings, reversing current law that prohibited such exclusion

Multiple vehicle equipment and registration violations become secondary enforcement only, meaning officers can only cite these when already detaining a driver for another suspected violation, including: unpaid registration fees, expired registration plates, license plate frame violations, single headlamp out, rear plate light issues, missing rearview mirrors, and illegal window tinting

Officers cannot stop vehicles for expired registration until the first day of the fourth month following the original expiration date

The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, with the secondary enforcement provisions applying retroactively to cases not yet finally adjudicated