Drunk Driving and Other Penalty Bills
Driver Licensing Bills
Vehicle Services Bills
Miscellaneous Bills
- Drunk and Drugged Driving – Young Drivers – License Suspension - HB 310/SB 288 (Chapter 220/219, Laws of 2006). This legislation requires the MVA to impose a mandatory suspension on the license of a driver under the age of 21 who violates alcohol and/or drug provisions for one (1) year for the first offense and two (2) years for the second or subsequent offense. Additionally, this legislation allows a person to request a consolidation of administrative hearings for all of the suspensions and/or revocations for certain offenses arising from the same incident.
Effective: October 1, 2006
- Vehicle Laws – Administrative Per Se Offenses – High Alcohol Concentration or Test Refusal – Ignition Interlock System – Suspension Modifications and Restrictive Licenses - HB 525 (Chapter 461, Laws of 2006). This legislation increases the driver’s license suspension period for any driver whose blood alcohol concentration (BAC) equals .15 or more. The suspension is increased from 45 to 90 days for a first offense and from 90 to 180 days for a second or subsequent offense. It also requires that a suspension for a test refusal or a BAC test result of .15 or more not be modified unless the individual elects to participate in the Ignition Interlock Program for one (1) year. If the driver elects to participate in the Ignition Interlock Program, but does not successfully complete the participation requirement, the MVA is required to suspend the individual’s driver’s license for the full applicable suspension period after sending notice of the proposed suspension and opportunity for hearing.
The bill also authorizes the MVA to modify a suspension of an individual whose BAC test result was between .08 and .15, and issue a restrictive license if said license is necessary for the individual or a immediate family member of the individual to obtain health care treatment.
Effective: January 1, 2007
- Motor Vehicle Administration – Restricted Driver’s License – Vision Standards - HB 1375/SB 758 (Chapter 493, Laws of 2006). This legislation authorizes the MVA to issue restricted drivers’ licenses to individuals who do not meet specified vision standards if that individual is evaluated and recommended by the Medical Advisory Board and has completed an approved driver safety course.
Effective: July 1, 2006
- Motor Vehicle Excise Tax – Trailers - HB 51 (Chapter 152, Laws of 2006). This legislation lowers the minimum fair market value for excise tax calculation for private sales of trailers. Therefore, the minimum excise tax (based on a 5% rate) that an individual would pay for a trailer has been reduced from $32 to $16.
Effective: October 1, 2006
- Vehicle Laws – Historic Motor Vehicles – Registration - SB 184/HB 548 (Chapter 123, Laws of 2006). This legislation alters the definition of a historic motor vehicle (Class L) to include certain vehicles that are at least 20 years old. This bill also creates a new sub-classification of historic vehicles, consisting of vehicles that were manufactured in a model year at least 60 years prior to the current model year. Vehicles in this sub-classification will be subject to a one-time permanent, non-transferable registration fee of $50.
Effective: January 1, 2007
- Vehicle Laws – Motor Vehicles Operated Exclusively on Islands – Registration - SB 328 (Chapter 245, Laws of 2006). This legislation alters the definition of a Class K (farm area) vehicle to include an island vehicle. An island vehicle is defined as a motor vehicle that, other than a golf cart, is operated exclusively on an island with out State maintained highways that is not accessible by a highway and contains less that 20 miles of highway. The bill also states that an island vehicle may not be operated on a highway in the State that is not on such an island, will be subject to the same $2.50 annual registration fee as other Class K vehicles, is not subject to a safety inspection prior to purchase or registration, and may not be issued a temporary Class K registration.
Effective: October 1, 2006
- Health – Advance Directives – Registry – Drivers’ Licenses and Identification Cards -HB 319/SB 236 (Chapter 223, Laws of 2006). This legislation requires the MVA to provide a notation on a Maryland driver’s license or identification card indicating that the holder has an advance directive filed with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Effective: July 1, 2007
- Vehicle Laws – Special Dealer Registration Plates – Authorized Uses - SB 456 (Chapter 133, Laws of 2006). This legislation authorizes a licensed motor vehicle dealer to lend a vehicle with Class 1A (special dealer) registration plates to an educational institution that provides accommodations for the deaf and hearing impaired for its driver’s education instruction.
Effective: June 1, 2006
- Motor Scooters – Motorized Minibikes – Regulations - HB 143 (Chapter 562, Laws of 2006). This bill repeals the existing definition of “minibike” and defines “motorized minibike” as a motor vehicle that has 2 or 3 wheels and does not have to be registered with the MVA, but is not a motor scooter, a moped, or a farm tractor. The bill authorizes local jurisdictions to require a permit and impose a permit fee for the use of a motorized minibike.
Effective: October 1, 2006
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