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.
*hb1207*
HOUSE BILL 1207
R5 3lr2136
By: Delegates Miller and McComas
Introduced and read first time: February 10, 2023
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 5, 2023
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Motor Vehicles – Motorcycles – Passenger Restrictions 2
FOR the purpose of requiring a rear passenger on a motorcycle to be able to firmly position 3
the passenger’s feet on the footrests of the motorcycle, subject to a certain exception; 4
and generally relating to passenger restrictions for motorcycles. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Transportation 7
Section 21–1302 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Transportation 13
21–1302. 14
(a) The operator of a motorcycle may ride the motorcycle only on the permanent 15
and regular seat attached to it. 16
(b) The operator of a motorcycle may not carry any other person unless the 17
motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride 18
on the permanent and regular seat, if designed for two persons, or on another seat firmly 19 2 HOUSE BILL 1207
attached to the motorcycle at the rear or side of the operator. 1
(c) (1) A person other than the operator of a motorcycle may not ride on a 2
motorcycle unless the motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event 3
a passenger may ride on the permanent and regular seat, if designed for [2] TWO persons, 4
or on another seat firmly attached to the motorcycle at the rear or side of the operator. 5
(2) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 6
PARAGRAPH , A PASSENGER MAY NOT RIDE ON A MOTORC YCLE ON A SEAT AT THE 7
REAR OF THE OPERATOR UNLESS THE PASSENGER IS ABL E TO POSITION THE 8
PASSENGER’S FEET FIRMLY ON THE F OOTRESTS WHILE SEATE D. 9
(II) SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH DOES NOT APPLY 10
TO A PASSENGER ON A MOTORCYCLE WHO IS UNABLE TO POS ITION THE 11
PASSENGER’S FEET FIRMLY ON THE F OOTRESTS DUE TO A PE RMANENT PHYSICAL 12
DISABILITY. 13
(d) A person may ride on a motorcycle operated under a Class M driver’s license 14
only while sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on each side of the 15
motorcycle. 16
(e) A person may not operate a motorcycle while carrying any package, bundle, 17
or other article that prevents the person from keeping both hands on the steering 18
mechanism. 19
(f) The operator of a motorcycle may not carry any person in a position that 20
interferes with the operation or control of the motorcycle or the view of the operator. 21
(g) A person other than the operator of a motorcycle may not ride in a position 22
that interferes with the operation or control of the motorcycle or the view of the operator. 23
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 24
October 1, 2023. 25
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.