2001 LEGISLATION

Drunk Driving and other penalty bills
Driver Licensing Bills
Vehicle Services Bills
Miscellaneous Bills

Drunk Driving and other penalty bills

Drunk and Drugged Driving - Evidence - Refusal to Submit to Test for Alcohol, Drugs, or Controlled Dangerous Substances - SB 4 (Chapter 1, Laws of 2001) / HB 338 (Chapter 2, Laws of 2001). Allows for the refusal to submit to a chemical test to determine the alcohol concentration in one's blood to be used as evidence in court.

Vehicle Laws - Young Drivers - Alcohol Restrictions - SB 55 (Chapter 6, Laws of 2001). Eliminates a loophole that required an analysis of a licensee's blood or breath to prove a violation of an under-21 alcohol restriction.

Alcohol Concentration - "0.08"- SB 108 (Chapter 4, Laws of 2001) / HB 3 (Chapter 5, Laws of 2001). Reduces from "0.10" to "0.08" the levels of alcohol concentration in one's blood required for driving while "under the influence".

Drunk Driving- Ignition Interlock System Program Participants - HB 337 (Chapter 3, Laws of 2001). Authorizes the MVA to modify a driver's license suspension for a person who participates in the Ignition Interlock Program. The participant must have had his or her driver's license suspended for: (1) refusing to submit to a blood alcohol test; or (2) driving or attempting to drive while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Drunk and Drugged Driving - Ignition Interlock System Program - HB 669 (Chapter 254, Laws of 2001). Provides that when an individual chooses to participate in the Ignition Interlock Program, the MVA may issue a restrictive license for the entire period of the specified suspension of the drivers' licenses for alcohol or drug-related offenses.

Crimes - Driving While License Revoked - Penalties - HB 874 (Chapter 278, Laws of 2001). Extends the period of revocation for individuals whose license to drive is revoked for a period of 1 year for a first violation, 18 months for a second violation and 2 years for a third or subsequent violation before the individual is eligible for reinstatement.

Vehicle Laws - Aggressive Driving - Penalties - HB 1074 (Chapter 520, Laws of 2001). Establishes a 5-point penalty for persons convicted of aggressive driving. Aggressive driving is defined as a combination of 3 or more offenses, committed at the same time, or during a single and continuous period of driving. The offenses include: running a red light, overtaking and pass vehicles unsafely, illegally passing on the right, following too closely, failing to yield the right of way, and exceeding the speed limit.

Driver Licensing Issues

Drivers' Licenses - Graduated Licensing System - Provisional Licenses - Restrictions - SB 5 / HB 232 (Chapter 456, Laws of 2001). Requires that all passengers in vehicles driven by persons with provisional drivers' licenses use seatbelts or child safety seats. This bill only affects drivers receiving their licenses after September 30, 2001.

Motor Vehicle Administration - Collection of Fees - Reinstatement of Revoked Driving - SB 56 (Chapter 119, Laws of 2001). When drivers are attempting to reinstate their drivers' licenses, they currently pay the MVA two fees. This bill combines the two fees into one, simplifying the application process and reducing the number of times they must visit the MVA to complete the process.

Vehicle Laws - Driver Education - SB 59 (Chapter 350, Laws of 2001). Requires that driving instructors complete an instructor certification program approved by the MVA prior to teaching. The driver instructor programs for provisional drivers must conform to the standardized curriculum approved by the MVA.

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Vehicle Service Issues

Vehicle Laws - Transfers - Continued Use of Registration Plates - SB 57 (Chapter 120, Laws of 2001). Allows the MVA to transfer registration plates from one spouse's name to the other spouse's name in one simple transaction. Similar legislation affecting vehicles between parents and children passed in 2000.

Motor Homes and Travel Trailers - Vehicle Excise Tax - Definitions - SB 191 (Chapter 361, Laws of 2001) / HB 106. Reduces the total purchase price, by the value of a trade-in, for motor homes and travel trailers to determine the motor vehicle excise tax.

Motor Vehicle Registration - Surcharge - Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations - SB 292 (Chapter 33, Laws of 2001) / HB 1148. Increases the annual surcharge from $8 to $11 on a vehicle registration for the Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund.

Vehicle Laws - Titling and Registration - Time Period Extension - SB 352 (Chapter 376, Laws of 2001) / HB 377. Increases the number of days from 20 to 30 a vehicle dealer has to send the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) certain documents, taxes and fees required for titling the vehicle. The bill also increases the number of days from 45 to 60 that a temporary motor vehicle plate is valid.

Task Force to Study Motor Vehicle Salvage Inspection and Titling Practices - HB 411 (Chapter 474, Laws of 2001). Establishes a 13-member task force to explore methods of modernizing motor vehicle salvage inspection and titling practices. The task force will study several options: (1) for the decentralization of salvage inspection and for the use of certified inspection stations; (2) ways to implement the electronic transfer of salvage inspection assignments; and (3) the appropriateness of fees associated with salvage inspections and with obtaining a certificate of title for a vehicle that is rebuilt after being salvaged.

Vehicle Laws - Registration Plates - Display of Owner's County of Residence - HB 1080 (Chapter 522, Laws of 2001). Allows an individual to purchase and display a decal indicating their county of residency on their standard license plates. The decals cannot be used on the Chesapeake Bay, Agricultural or any organizational plate because of their design.

Vehicle Laws - Parking Placard for Person with a Disability - Extension of Expiration Date - HB 1100 (Chapter 300, Laws of 2001). Extends the expiration date of a disabled parking placard issued to a person with a disability from 2 years to 4 years.

Miscellaneous

Motor Vehicle Law - Licensing of Businesses and Occupations - SB 58 (Chapter 121, Laws of 2001). Amends several provisions dealing with the location at which a vehicle dealer may sell vehicles, and the number and type of vehicle shows in which a vehicle dealer is allowed to participate. The bill also increases the amount of a surety bond that a dealer who sells over 1,000 vehicles annually is required to file with the MVA.

Election Procedure Reform Act SB 740 (Chapter 424, Laws of 2001). Requires the MVA to provide an opportunity to all individuals applying, renewing or updating a driver's license or identification card to apply to register to vote or update a current voter registration record. The bill also requires a local board of elections to add registered voters to its registry who have relocated to that jurisdiction. The use of provisional ballots is allowed at the election polls under certain circumstances.

Vehicle Laws - Funeral Processions - Use of Warning Lamps Required - HB 328 (Chapter 212, Laws of 2001). Requires a driver of a motor vehicle in a funeral procession to use flashing warning lamps in order to proceed through a red signal and to have the right-of-way over other vehicles.

Vehicle Laws - Registration Plate Covers - Distorting Characters of Vehicle Registration Plate - HB 773 (Chapter 501, Laws of 2001). Prevents the use of license plate covers which distort a red light camera image. The sale, advertisement for sale or use of "specified objects" - like a license plate cover - is prohibited.

Vehicle Laws - Insurance Claims Settlement - Salvage - HB 1388 (Chapter 327,Laws of 2001). Concerns salvaged vehicles which are retained by the owner at the conclusion of a claim settlement by an insurance company. In such cases the insurance company is not considered to have acquired the vehicle. The insurance company submits a fee to the MVA and notifies the MVA that the cost of the vehicle's repair exceeds the value of the vehicle prior or the vehicle is not rebuildable and will be used for parts and cannot be retitled. The vehicle's owner is to be notified by the insurance company that the vehicle registration is suspended.

Vehicle Laws - Motor Scooters - HB 1402 (Chapter 557, Laws of 2001). Allows persons driving a motor scooter to not use a helmet. Requires that they must carry a driver's license or permit issued by the MVA while operating a motor scooter. Motor scooters are allowed to travel in bike lanes but not bike paths and no scooter can go faster than 30-mile per hour. A motor scooter is not a motorcycle and is not subject to state motorcycle law, but the rules of the road will apply to the vehicles.

Scooters - Protective Helmets - HB 1407 (Chapter 344, Laws of 2001). Prohibits anyone under 16 from riding a scooter, in-line skates or bicycle without a helmet.