EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0076*
SENATE BILL 76
R4, R5 2lr1067
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Ellis
Requested: October 29, 2021
Introduced and read first time: January 12, 2022
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Motor Vehicle Registration – Exceptions for Golf Carts and Low Speed Vehicles 2
– Cobb Island 3
FOR the purpose of establishing exceptions to motor vehicle registration requirements for 4
golf carts and low speed vehicles on Cobb Island in Charles County, subject to certain 5
requirements; and generally relating to exceptions to motor vehicle registration 6
requirements for golf carts and low speed vehicles on Cobb Island. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Transportation 9
Section 11–130.1 and 13–402(a)(1) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Transportation 14
Section 13–402(c) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 17
BY adding to 18
Article – Transportation 19
Section 21–104.5 and 21–104.6 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 22
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 23
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 24
Article – Transportation 25 2 SENATE BILL 76
11–130.1. 1
“Low speed vehicle” means a four–wheeled motor vehicle that has a maximum speed 2
capability that exceeds 20 miles per hour but is less than 25 miles per hour. 3
13–402. 4
(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section or elsewhere in the 5
Maryland Vehicle Law, each motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer driven on 6
a highway shall be registered under this subtitle. 7
(c) Registration under this subtitle is not required for: 8
(1) A vehicle that is driven on a highway: 9
(i) In conformity with the provisions of this title relating to 10
manufacturers, transporters, dealers, secured parties, owners or operators of special mobile 11
equipment, or nonresidents; or 12
(ii) Under a temporary registration card issued by the 13
Administration; 14
(2) A vehicle owned and used by the United States, unless an authorized 15
officer or employee of the United States requests registration of the vehicle; 16
(3) A farm tractor or any farm equipment; 17
(4) A vehicle the front or rear wheels of which are lifted from the highway; 18
(5) A towed vehicle that is attached to the towing vehicle by a tow bar and 19
for which no driver is necessary; 20
(6) A vehicle owned by and in the possession of a licensed dealer for purpose 21
of sale; 22
(7) A vehicle owned by a new resident of this State during the first 60 days 23
of residency provided the vehicle displays valid registration issued by the jurisdiction of the 24
resident’s former domicile; 25
(8) New vehicles being operated as part of a shuttle, as defined in § 13–626 26
of this title, while following a registered vehicle displaying a shuttle permit issued by the 27
Administration; 28
(9) A vehicle operated in connection with maritime commerce exclusively 29
within any terminal owned or leased by the Maryland Port Administration; 30
SENATE BILL 76 3
(10) A snowmobile that is operated on highways and roadways as prescribed 1
by § 25–102(a)(14) of this article; 2
(11) A golf cart that is operated on a highway on Smith Island, provided that 3
the golf cart is equipped with lighting devices as required by the Administration if it is 4
operated on a highway between dusk and dawn; 5
(12) A golf cart that is operated on a highway in accordance with [§§ 6
21–104.2 through 21–104.4] § 21–104.2, § 21–104.3, § 21–104.4, OR § 21–104.5 of this 7
article; 8
(13) A golf cart that is operated on an Allegany County highway as allowed 9
by the county under § 25–102(a)(16) of this article; [or] 10
(14) A vehicle owned by an accredited consular or diplomatic officer of a 11
foreign government and operated for official or personal purposes when the vehicle displays 12
a valid diplomatic license plate issued by the United States government; OR 13
(15) A LOW SPEED V EHICLE THAT IS OPERA TED ON A HIGHWAY IN 14
ACCORDANCE WITH § 21–104.6 OF THIS ARTICLE . 15
21–104.5. 16
A PERSON WHO OPERATES A GOLF CART ON A HIG HWAY ON COBB ISLAND, 17
CHARLES COUNTY, WITHOUT REGISTRATION AS AUTHORIZED UNDER § 18
13–402(C)(12) OF THIS ARTICLE: 19
(1) MAY OPERATE THE GOLF CART ONLY: 20
(I) ON A HIGHWAY ON WHICH THE MAXIMUM POSTED S PEED 21
LIMIT DOES NOT EXCEE D 30 MILES PER HOUR ; 22
(II) BETWEEN DAWN AND DUSK ; AND 23
(III) IF THE GOLF CART IS E QUIPPED WITH LIGHTIN G DEVICES 24
AS REQUIRED BY THE ADMINISTRATION; 25
(2) SHALL KEEP THE GOLF C ART AS FAR TO THE RI GHT OF THE 26
ROADWAY AS FEASIBLE ; AND 27
(3) SHALL POSSESS A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. 28
21–104.6. 29
4 SENATE BILL 76
A PERSON WHO OPERATES A LOW SPEED VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY ON COBB 1
ISLAND, CHARLES COUNTY, WITHOUT REGISTRATION AS AUTHORIZED UNDER § 2
13–402(C)(15) OF THIS ARTICLE: 3
(1) MAY OPERATE THE LOW S PEED VEHICLE ONLY : 4
(I) ON A HIGHWAY ON WHICH THE MAXIMUM POSTE D SPEED 5
LIMIT DOES NOT EXCEE D 30 MILES PER HOUR ; 6
(II) BETWEEN DAWN AND DUSK ; AND 7
(III) IF THE LOW SPEED VEHI CLE IS EQUIPPED WITH LIGHTING 8
DEVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ; 9
(2) SHALL KEEP THE LOW SP EED VEHICLE AS FAR T O THE RIGHT OF 10
THE ROADWAY AS FEASIBLE ; AND 11
(3) SHALL POSSESS A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. 12
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 13
1, 2022. 14