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- This bill enhances the criminal penalties to a fine of up to $500, two months in jail, or both if a person is convicted of an alcohol or drug related driving offense and found to have knowingly refused to take a field sobriety test. This bill requires a police officer to advise a person of the enhanced criminal penalties under circumstances which may provide the opportunity for refusal of such tests.
Effective: October 1, 2005
- This bill prohibits minors, holding a provisional driver's license, from transporting individuals under the age of 18 years as passengers except under special circumstances. The bills require the prohibition to be in effect for 151 days from the date of the provisional license's issuance and exempts passengers that are family or residents of the same address. The bills also provide that the enforcement of the passenger violation is allowable as a secondary offense when one makes an infraction of a moving violation.
Effective: October 1, 2005
- This bill prohibits the holder of a learner's permit or provisional driver's license from using a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle except when contacting 911. The MVA may suspend a driver's license for up to 90 days with the receipt of satisfactory evidence that the law was violated. If a suspension occurs, the MVA will issue a special restricted license for use in the course of employment, for transportation to and from a place of employment, or for transportation to and from school. The violation is enforceable only as a secondary offense.
Effective: October 1, 2005
- This bill requires an individual who holds a learner's permit to complete at least 60 hours of driving practice with someone who is at least 21 years of age and has held a driver's license for at least 3 years. At least 10 of the required practice hours must occur during the evening, and a practice driving skills log must be signed by an individual certifying that the practice driving requirements were fulfilled.
Effective: October 1, 2005
- This bill prohibits a court from placing a defendant on probation for a moving violation or criminal offense if the defendant holds a provisional license and the defendant has previously been placed on probation for a moving violation or criminal offense. A provisional holder is also prohibited from receiving a full license within 18 months of committing a moving violation.
Effective: October 1, 2005
- This bill requires the reporting of infractions of a commercial driver's license (CDL) to the MVA that are the same as those reported to the Circuit Court in cases involving motor vehicles. Commercial drivers caught without a copy of their license will face suspension and commercial drivers convicted of an alcohol-related offense in any vehicle face a revocation of their commercial license.
Effective: September 30, 2005
- Vehicle Laws - Provisional Drivers - Eligibility for License - SB 206 (Chapter 452, Laws of 2005). This bill prohibits an individual who holds a provisional driver's license from receiving a driver's license sooner than 18 months after the individual has obtained the provisional license, the date the individual has been convicted of a moving violation or violation to a provisional restriction, or the date of restoration of the individual's provisional license or driving privilege, whichever is later.
Effective: October 1, 2005
- Vehicle Laws - License to Drive - Requirements - SB 209 (Chapter 453, Laws of 2005). This bill sets the minimum age required for the eligibility of a provisional license to 15 years, 9 months. This bill also extends the time period an individual is required to hold a learner's permit from 4 to 6 months.
Effective: October 1, 2005
- This bill requires the MVA to title and register electric low speed vehicles, classified "R" and establishes an annual registration fee. A low speed vehicle is defined as an electric, four-wheeled vehicle with capabilities to travel in excess of 20 miles per hour (mph), but not more that 25 mph and prohibits a person from driving a low speed vehicle on roadways with a speed limit exceeding 30 miles per hour.
Effective: January 1, 2006
- This "Watermelon Bus" bill authorizes the Motor Vehicle Administration to issue a temporary Class K (farm area) vehicle registration to a vehicle, usually a modified school bus, owned by a resident of another state that is almost always used to tender produce stands.
Effective: June 1, 2005
- This bill provides a schedule of weight classes for non-freight trailers or semitrailers that are titled on or after October 1, 2005.
Effective: October 1, 2005
- This bill alters the eligibility criteria for parking placards and registration plates for persons with disabilities, and the number of disabled registration plates and placards that may be issued. The legislation also repeals a requirement that an individual re-certify a disability. Specified parking lot changes are considered to be an alteration for the purposes of the Maryland Accessibility Code and requires parking lots and signs to come into compliance with state laws.
Effective: January 1, 2006
- . House Bill 147 provides for the distribution of any program fees collected by the Division of Correctional Services to a special fund used for the Drinking Driver Monitor Program and authorizes a fee to be assessed to participants in the Drinking Driver Monitor Program for multiple fiscal years.
Effective: June 1, 2005
- Establishes a Task Force to Study Identity Theft and specifies the membership and duties of the Task Force. The MVA Administrator, or his designee, is included in the membership of the Task Force. The Task Force must report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2006.
Effective: July 1, 2005
- This bill is a "housekeeping" measure that repeals a requirement that the Secretary of Transportation adopt regulations to be effective on October 1, 2004, that authorize the use of surge brakes on trailers and semitrailers.
Effective: July 1, 2005
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