HB 93 – Motor Vehicle Administration - Identification Cards and Drivers' Licenses - This departmental bill allows the MVA to increase the validity period of an ID card for 65 year-olds or older from five years to eight years. The bill also authorizes the waiver of a vision examination for an applicant who is applying for a corrected driver’s license and has passed an acceptable vision exam within the last year. Lastly, HB 93 removes an employer information question from the application for a driver’s license.
HB 934 -Vehicle Laws - Commercial Vehicles - Handheld Telephones Utilizing Push-to-Talk Technology - This bill allows a person driving a commercial vehicle to use handheld push-to-talk technology.
SB 624 - Vehicle Laws - Bicycles and Motor Scooters - Rules of the Road - The new law allows a person to ride from the sidewalk curb or edge of the roadway in or through a crosswalk to the opposite curb or edge. If there is no bike lane paved to a smooth surface, a person operating a bicycle or motor scooter may use the roadway or shoulder.
SB 51 - Vehicle Laws – Bicycles, EPAMDs, and Motor Scooters – Rules of the Road - This bill requires a driver to give a buffer of at least three feet when overtaking a bicycle, segway, or a motor scooter. It also requires a driver to yield the right-of-way to a person who is lawfully riding a bicycle, segway, or a motor scooter in a designated bicycle lane or shoulder if the vehicle driver is about to enter or cross the designated bicycle lane or shoulder.
HB 499 - Motor Vehicles - Approaching Emergency Vehicles and Personnel - The bill requires a driver to change lanes away from an emergency vehicle if the driver is approaching it from the rear. The emergency vehicle must be using its visual signals and must be parked or stopped. If the lane change is not possible, the driver must reduce speed to a reasonable and prudent speed that ensures the safety of emergency services personnel. A violation of this provision is a misdemeanor subject to a maximum fine of $500.
Effective: October 1, 2010
SB 189 - Victims' Rights - Fatal Vehicular Accident - Suspension of License - This bill allows the MVA to suspend up to six month the license of a driver convicted of a moving violation that contributed to a traffic fatality. It authorizes the victim's representative to be notified of a license suspension hearing held as a result of the moving violation, and the right to give an oral or written statement at the hearing.
HB 469 – Motor Vehicle Excise Tax-Tax Credit for Electric Vehicles - The bill creates a tax exemption up to $2000 for qualified plug-in electric vehicles. The credit is limited to one vehicle per individual and 10 vehicles per business entity. The credit is available for qualified vehicles titled on or after October 1, 2010, and sunsets June 30, 2013.
HB 674 – High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes – use by Plug-in Vehicles - This bill allows plug-in vehicles to travel on High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, regardless of the number of occupants in the vehicle. It allows the MVA to charge a fee up to $20 for issuing HOV-lane permits to plug-in vehicle owners. The Maryland State Highway Administration may limit the number of permits issued to ensure that HOV lanes are not degraded by overuse. The proposal terminates on September 30, 2013.
SB 344 - Motor Vehicles - Limited Speed Vehicles - Requirements and Prohibitions - This bill limits vehicles with the maximum speed capability of between 25 and 55 mph to be driven on highways where the speed limit is at least five miles per hour less than the vehicle’s maximum speed. An auto dealer must inform the buyer of the limitations and must be sold with an emblem designating it as a "limited speed vehicle."
Effective: October 1, 2010
HB 934 -Vehicle Laws - Commercial Vehicles - Handheld Telephones Utilizing Push-to-Talk Technology - This bill allows a person driving a commercial vehicle to use handheld push-to-talk technology.
SB 624 - Vehicle Laws - Bicycles and Motor Scooters - Rules of the Road - The new law allows a person to ride from the sidewalk curb or edge of the roadway in or through a crosswalk to the opposite curb or edge. If there is no bike lane paved to a smooth surface, a person operating a bicycle or motor scooter may use the roadway or shoulder.
SB 51 - Vehicle Laws – Bicycles, EPAMDs, and Motor Scooters – Rules of the Road - This bill requires a driver to give a buffer of at least three feet when overtaking a bicycle, segway, or a motor scooter. It also requires a driver to yield the right-of-way to a person who is lawfully riding a bicycle, segway, or a motor scooter in a designated bicycle lane or shoulder if the vehicle driver is about to enter or cross the designated bicycle lane or shoulder.
HB 499 - Motor Vehicles - Approaching Emergency Vehicles and Personnel - The bill requires a driver to change lanes away from an emergency vehicle if the driver is approaching it from the rear. The emergency vehicle must be using its visual signals and must be parked or stopped. If the lane change is not possible, the driver must reduce speed to a reasonable and prudent speed that ensures the safety of emergency services personnel. A violation of this provision is a misdemeanor subject to a maximum fine of $500.
Effective: October 1, 2010
SB 189 - Victims' Rights - Fatal Vehicular Accident - Suspension of License - This bill allows the MVA to suspend up to six month the license of a driver convicted of a moving violation that contributed to a traffic fatality. It authorizes the victim's representative to be notified of a license suspension hearing held as a result of the moving violation, and the right to give an oral or written statement at the hearing.
HB 469 – Motor Vehicle Excise Tax-Tax Credit for Electric Vehicles - The bill creates a tax exemption up to $2000 for qualified plug-in electric vehicles. The credit is limited to one vehicle per individual and 10 vehicles per business entity. The credit is available for qualified vehicles titled on or after October 1, 2010, and sunsets June 30, 2013.
HB 674 – High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes – use by Plug-in Vehicles - This bill allows plug-in vehicles to travel on High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, regardless of the number of occupants in the vehicle. It allows the MVA to charge a fee up to $20 for issuing HOV-lane permits to plug-in vehicle owners. The Maryland State Highway Administration may limit the number of permits issued to ensure that HOV lanes are not degraded by overuse. The proposal terminates on September 30, 2013.
SB 344 - Motor Vehicles - Limited Speed Vehicles - Requirements and Prohibitions - This bill limits vehicles with the maximum speed capability of between 25 and 55 mph to be driven on highways where the speed limit is at least five miles per hour less than the vehicle’s maximum speed. An auto dealer must inform the buyer of the limitations and must be sold with an emblem designating it as a "limited speed vehicle."
Effective: October 1, 2010
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