A blue ribbon in support of victims of human trafficking.
The horrible crime of human trafficking affects all parts of the state of Maryland. Major airports, inexpensive bus lines and regional train service makes the state a target for traffickers. That’s why the Maryland Department of Transportation is taking the lead in stopping the crime and saving lives.
Governor Wes Moore signed the Maryland See Someone, Save Someone Act (HB 1) into law in May 2025. It requires the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to implement human trafficking awareness training for our employees.
Key Components of the Act include:
- Training Mandate: MDOT must create a curriculum for identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking victims, specifically targeting transportation sector employees (transit, airports, ports, rest stops).
- Employer Certification: By January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, employers must certify that employees have completed the training.
- New Hire Requirement: New employees must complete the training within 90 days of hiring.
- Immunity: The Act removes civil and criminal liability for employees or employers who report suspected trafficking in good faith.
- Prevention Policies: Employers must implement policies and procedures for reporting suspected cases to appropriate authorities.
- Public Awareness: MDOT is required to ensure frequent public service announcements regarding safety information for victims at transportation facilities.
David Larsen, our Homeland Security Program Manager, oversees the human trafficking training program for MDOT. Larsen joined MDOT in 2022 after 30 years with Maryland Natural Resources Police.
Larsen discussed MDOT’s implementation of the See Someone, Save Someone Act. Some answers have been edited for brevity.
How prevalent is human trafficking along Maryland’s highways, rest areas and transit hubs?
Larsen: We know that any state’s transportation network is an avenue to perpetuate or move human trafficking from one location to another, including our airports, bus service, rail service and even truckers coming to a port area could be bringing folks that are potentially being human trafficked. One of the good things is that the bill mandates all MDOT folks undergo training. You know, what’s the definition of human trafficking? How do I recognize it? Ways to report it, that type of thing.
What else can you say about the training?
Larsen: We identified a training that is already out there and available that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) came up with in their efforts to combat human trafficking. We partnered with USDOT and were able to utilize through a signed use agreement the ability to take their training video and implement it into MDOT’s Cornerstone or MDOT University training platform. So, we are at the final stages of having that implemented.
What should someone do if they suspect human trafficking?
Larsen: Do not inject yourself into that situation. Be a good witness, take notes or even a photograph. Report it to law enforcement; tell them what you have. One nice thing the bill did is it held MDOT employees harmless if they report a case of suspected trafficking that doesn’t turn into anything. So that’s something like Good Samaritan Law. Again, I think the more that the public is aware of the indicators of human trafficking, they’ll better educated to make those stops.