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Police, business owners and residents back higher fines for commercial vehicles parked in residential areas
Summary
Councilmember Opal Jones proposed raising penalties for commercial motor vehicles parked in residential areas; police supported higher fines, while some residents and contractors expressed concerns about impacts on working households and recommended alternative solutions.
Councilmember Opal Jones introduced legislation (Council Bill 52-2025) and a companion resolution (CR116-2025) proposing higher fines and an updated citation schedule for commercial motor vehicles parked more than six continuous hours in residential areas. The measure drew robust public testimony for and against the change during the June public hearing.
Jones said the current fine of $33 is the lowest in Maryland and that the bill revises penalties to strengthen enforcement. Jones' office said commercial vehicles that need long-term parking should use industrial or higher-intensity commercial zones (for example M1, M2, Solid Waste Overlay, CLR) and told the council that the Howard County Police Department considers residential portions of New Town (NT) zoning areas to fall within the county's residential-parking enforcement…
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