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.
*hb0440*
HOUSE BILL 440
R4, R5 4lr2387
HB 948/23 – ENT
By: Charles County Delegation
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2024
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 7, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Motor Vehicle Registration – Exceptions for Golf Carts – Cobb Island 2
FOR the purpose of establishing exceptions to motor vehicle registration requirements for 3
golf carts on Cobb Island in Charles County, subject to certain requirements; and 4
generally relating to exceptions to motor vehicle registration requirements for golf 5
carts on Cobb Island. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Transportation 8
Section 13–402(a)(1) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Transportation 13
Section 13–402(c) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 16
BY adding to 17
Article – Transportation 18
Section 21–104.7 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 21
2 HOUSE BILL 440
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Transportation 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
HOUSE BILL 440 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 § 21–104.2, 6
§ 21–104.3, § 21–104.4, [or] § 21–104.6, OR § 21–104.7 of this article; 7
(13) A golf cart that is operated on an Allegany County highway as allowed 8
by the county under § 25–102(a)(16) of this article; 9
(14) A vehicle owned by an accredited consular or diplomatic officer of a 10
foreign government and operated for official or personal purposes when the vehicle displays 11
a valid diplomatic license plate issued by the United States government; or 12
(15) A personal delivery device that is operated on a roadway, sidewalk, 13
shoulder, or crosswalk in accordance with § 21–104.5 of this article. 14
21–104.7. 15
A PERSON WHO OPERATES A GOLF CART ON A HIG HWAY ON COBB ISLAND, 16
CHARLES COUNTY, WITHOUT REGISTR ATION AS AUTHORIZED UNDER § 17
13–402(C)(12) OF THIS ARTICLE: 18
(1) MAY OPERATE THE GOLF CART ONLY: 19
(I) ON A HIGHWAY ON WHICH THE MAXIMUM POSTED S PEED 20
LIMIT DOES NOT EXCEE D 30 MILES PER HOUR ; 21
(II) BETWEEN DAWN AND DUSK ; AND 22
(III) IF THE GOLF CART IS EQUIPPED WIT H LIGHTING DEVICES 23
AS REQUIRED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ; 24
(2) SHALL KEEP THE GOLF C ART AS FAR TO THE RI GHT OF THE 25
ROADWAY AS FEASIBLE ; AND 26
(3) SHALL POSSESS A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. 27
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this A ct shall take effect July 28
1, 2024. 29