2007 Legislation
Drunk Driving and Other Penalty Bills
Driver Licensing Bills
Vehicle Services Bills
Miscellaneous Bills
Drunk Driving and Other Penalty Bills
- Task Force to Combat Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol - HB 0758 / SB 0198. This bill establishes a task force to assess the progress and status of statewide efforts to combat impaired driving and identify deficiencies. Once these are determined, the Task Force shall recommend further actions to meet national best practices, address overrepresented populations involved in fatalities (repeat offenders, offenders with ACs of 0.15 or more, underage drinkers, etc.), enhance public awareness, and improve program coordination and resources. An interim report by the task force is due by December 2007 and the final report by October 2008. The bill takes effect July 2007 and sunsets December 2008.
Effective: July 1, 2007
- Mental Health - Incarcerated Individuals with Mental Illness - HB 0281. This bill requires the Motor Vehicle Administration, in conjunction with the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, to develop a plan to provide incarcerated individuals with mental illness with an identification card that complies with Motor Vehicle Administration requirements.
Effective: June 1, 2007 - Truancy - Prohibition Against Issuance of Learner's Instructional Permit - HB 0571 / SB 0198. This bill prohibits the Motor Vehicle Administration from issuing a learner’s permit to an applicant under the age of 16 unless the individual provides a certified copy of the applicant’s attendance record certifying that the individual has fewer than 10 unexcused absences in the prior school semester.
Effective: October 1, 2007
- Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007 - HB 0131 / SB 0103. This bill requires the Department of the Environment and the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to establish more stringent motor vehicle emissions standards and compliance requirements, and adopt regulations by December 31, 2007 to enforce these new requirements. It also creates a low emissions vehicle program (also known as California Emissions) applicable beginning with 2011 model year vehicles.
Effective: June 1, 2007 - Vehicle Laws - Special and Commemorative Registration Plates - HB 0220 / SB 0217. This bill extends the sunset period for the Chesapeake Bay Commemorative License Plate and the special registration plate honoring State agriculture from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2013. This bill also repeals the termination date for certain provisions related to the design of and the renewal fees for the Chesapeake Bay Commemorative License. Finally, the bill prohibits the issuance of commemorative plates for class "B" vehicles.
Effective: October 1, 2007 - Motor Vehicles - Special Registration Plates for Veterans - Use After Vehicle Transfer - HB 0856 / SB 0444. This bill allows the spouse of an individual who has been issued special registration plates for veterans to continue to use the plates after the vehicle title has been transferred from joint ownership to individual ownership.
Effective: October 1, 2007 - Motor Vehicle Excise Tax - Active Duty Military Personnel Who Become Maryland Residents - HB 0921 / SB 0100. This bill allows an active member of the military who becomes a Maryland resident a motor vehicle excise tax credit for a vehicle previously titled and registered in another state if the member of the military has not been a Maryland resident for more than one year. The bill would also expand the definition of a member of the military to include employees of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Effective: July 1, 2007
- Task Force to Study Identity Theft - HB 0026 / SB 0070. This bill extends the termination date of the Task Force to Study Identity Theft, established by HB 818 (Chapter 241, Acts of 2005), to January 31, 2008 (from January 31, 2007). This bill would also extend the date on which the Task Force is required to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly to December 31, 2007 (from December 31, 2006).
Effective: immediately - District Court - Citations - HB 0459 / SB 0587. This bill authorizes police officers to use a single document for issuance of multiple citations, and to use the information encoded on a driver's license to serve as acknowledgement of receipt of a citation by the person receiving it. This bill also allows the Chief Judge of the District Court to specify how the citations would be executed by police officers and to authorize citations to include a summons.
Effective: October 1, 2007