EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1143*
HOUSE BILL 1143
R5 2lr2896
CF SB 969
By: Allegany County Delegation and Garrett County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2022
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 14, 2022
CHAPTER ______
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
2 HOUSE BILL 1143
(B) Any person operating an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile on any portion of 1
a highway designated for all–terrain vehicle or snowmobile use under § 25–102(a)(14) of 2
this article has all the rights granted to and is subject to all the duties required of the driver 3
of a vehicle by this title, except for those provisions of this title that by their very nature 4
cannot apply. 5
[(b)] (C) In Allegany County and Garrett County a person may not operate an 6
all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile on a controlled access highway. 7
[(c)] (D) Except as provided in subsection [(b)] (C) of this section, in Allegany 8
County and Garrett County a person may operate an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile 9
on a State highway when crossing or traveling on the State highway in accordance with § 10
25–102(a)(14) of this article. 11
25–102. 12
(a) The provisions of the Maryland Vehicle Law do not prevent a local authority, 13
in the reasonable exercise of its police power, from exercising the following powers as to 14
highways under its jurisdiction: 15
(14) (i) IN THIS PARAGRAPH , “ALL–TERRAIN VEHICLE ” INCLUDES 16
AN OFF–HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLE . 17
(II) 1. Subject to item 2 of this item, except in Allegany County 18
and Garrett County, designating a certain portion of highways upon which snowmobiles 19
may travel for the sole purpose of gaining access to snowmobile trails; but 20
2. Designating only those highways which divide snowmobile 21
trails and which would otherwise obstruct direct access between snowmobile trails; and 22
[(ii)] (III) In Allegany County and Garrett County: 23
1. Authorizing a person to: 24
A. Cross a highway on an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile 25
at a right angle at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour; or 26
B. Operate an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile on not 27
more than [2] 5 miles of highway at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour; and 28
2. Designating a certain portion of highways upon which 29
all–terrain vehicles and snowmobiles may travel at a speed of not more than 25 miles per 30
hour for the sole purpose of gaining access to: 31
A. Trails on which the operation of an all–terrain vehicle or 32
a snowmobile is authorized; 33 HOUSE BILL 1143 3
B. Fields; or 1
C. Another area where the operation of an all–terrain vehicle 2
or a snowmobile is authorized; 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 4
October 1, 2022. 5
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.