EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1143*
HOUSE BILL 1143
R5 2lr2896
CF 2lr3238
By: Allegany County Delegation and Garrett County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2022
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Allegany County and Garrett County – All–Terrain Vehicles and Snowmobiles 2
FOR the purpose of expanding the definition of all–terrain vehicle in provisions governing 3
the use of all–terrain vehicles and snowmobiles in Allegany County and Garrett 4
County to include off–highway motorcycles; expanding the area of a highway on 5
which Allegany County and Garrett County may authorize all–terrain vehicles and 6
snowmobiles to operate; and generally relating to all–terrain vehicles and 7
snowmobiles in Allegany County and Garrett County. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Transportation 10
Section 21–104.1 and 25–102(a)(14) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – Transportation 16
21–104.1. 17
(a) IN THIS SECTION , “ALL–TERRAIN VEHICLE ” INCLUDES AN 18
OFF–HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLE . 19
(B) Any person operating an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile on any portion of 20
a highway designated for all–terrain vehicle or snowmobile use under § 25–102(a)(14) of 21
this article has all the rights granted to and is subject to all the duties required of the driver 22
of a vehicle by this title, except for those provisions of this title that by their very nature 23
cannot apply. 24 2 HOUSE BILL 1143
[(b)] (C) In Allegany County and Garrett County a person may not operate an 1
all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile on a controlled access highway. 2
[(c)] (D) Except as provided in subsection [(b)] (C) of this section, in Allegany 3
County and Garrett County a person may operate an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile 4
on a State highway when crossing or traveling on the State highway in accordance with § 5
25–102(a)(14) of this article. 6
25–102. 7
(a) The provisions of the Maryland Vehicle Law do not prevent a local authority, 8
in the reasonable exercise of its police power, from exercising the following powers as to 9
highways under its jurisdiction: 10
(14) (i) IN THIS PARAGRAPH , “ALL–TERRAIN VEHICLE ” INCLUDES 11
AN OFF–HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLE . 12
(II) 1. Subject to item 2 of this item, except in Allegany County 13
and Garrett County, designating a certain portion of highways upon which snowmobiles 14
may travel for the sole purpose of gaining access to snowmobile trails; but 15
2. Designating only those highways which divide snowmobile 16
trails and which would otherwise obstruct direct access between snowmobile trails; and 17
[(ii)] (III) In Allegany County and Garrett County: 18
1. Authorizing a person to: 19
A. Cross a highway on an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile 20
at a right angle at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour; or 21
B. Operate an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile on not 22
more than [2] 5 miles of highway at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour; and 23
2. Designating a certain portion of highways upon which 24
all–terrain vehicles and snowmobiles may travel at a speed of not more than 25 miles per 25
hour for the sole purpose of gaining access to: 26
A. Trails on which the operation of an all–terrain vehicle or 27
a snowmobile is authorized; 28
B. Fields; or 29
C. Another area where the operation of an all–terrain vehicle 30
or a snowmobile is authorized; 31 HOUSE BILL 1143 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
October 1, 2022. 2