BALTIMORE — Next week, 430 new laws will go into effect in Maryland, including one that sharply raises speed camera fines from a $40 flat fee to a sliding scale based on speed, with tickets ranging from $50 (12-15 miles over the limit) to $425 (40 or more mph over the limit).

Here is a look at some others being implemented Oct. 1.

Removing legal hurdles

Sponsored on behalf of Gov. Wes Moore, the Expungement Reform Act of 2025 intends to increase the ability for people to have their criminal records expunged upon completion of their sentence and rehabilitation requirements for certain crimes, including probation violations.

This law builds on a separate effort Moore undertook in 2024, when he issued an executive clemency order that pardoned 175,000 convictions related to cannabis possession.

Giving second chances

The Second Look Act, which will provide the right to petition for a sentence reconsideration hearing before a judge if a person has been imprisoned for at least 20 years and were between 18 and 24 years old at the time they committed their offense.

People convicted of sex offenses, the death of a first responder and those sentenced to life without parole are ineligible to petition for sentence reconsideration under this law.

Lowered penalties for paraphernalia

Beginning Oct. 1, the penalties for the use, possession, delivery or sale of drug paraphernalia will be reduced from up to two years imprisonment and a $2,000 fine to one year of imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.

Safe needles in the city

At the start of October, the HIV Prevention Syringe Services Program in Baltimore will be required to distribute clean syringes and dispose of used hypodermic needles given to them by people who use drugs. The program must allow users to exchange needles at mobile syringe services sites and must inform them of the risk of transmitting HIV or hepatitis B via unclean needles and unsafe sex.

Unhidden disabilities

In October, Eric’s ID Law will allow people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have a colorful butterfly symbol voluntarily added to their IDs and driver’s licenses at the Motor Vehicle Administration. This will signify to police and other emergency personnel that they have a condition they may not be able to publicly disclose.

The law is named for Eric Carpenter-Grantham, a Black man with high-functioning autism who created the symbol and lobbied for the bill’s passage in hopes that he could keep himself and others in his community safe if they are stopped by the police.

Reckless driving could lead to jail time

Beginning on Oct. 1, the Sgt. Patrick Kepp Act, will classify reckless driving as an offense with penalties of up to 60 days in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000. Driving 30 mph over the posted speed limit will be considered reckless or negligent driving.

Fines will start at $50 for driving 12-15 mph over, rise to $70 for 16-19, $120 for 20-29, $230 for 30-39, and top out at $425 for speeds 40 mph or more over the limit. The 12-mph threshold for triggering a citation remains unchanged, as do restrictions that cameras can only be installed in designated zones with local approval.

The law also directs the State Highway Administration to convene a workgroup by Dec. 1 to study best practices for school-zone enforcement, including how far from school property cameras may be placed and whether they are effective in reducing crashes.

The law is named in honor of Sgt. Patrick Kepp, who, as an on-duty police officer in Montgomery County, lost both of his legs after he was intentionally struck by a driver speeding over 100 mph.

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