EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1375*
HOUSE BILL 1375
R6 5lr2439
By: Delegate Stein
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Equipment – Portable Variable Messaging Signs – Authorization 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing a tow truck to display a portable variable messaging sign 3
mounted on the tow truck while at the scene of an accident or a disabled vehicle; and 4
generally relating to portable variable messaging signs. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
Article – Transportation 7
Section 22–218(c)(1) 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Transportation 12
Section 22–218(c)(6) and 22–218.2(a) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – Transportation 18
22–218. 19
(c) (1) A person may not drive or move on any highway any vehicle or 20
equipment that is equipped with or displays any light or signal device designed to emit an 21
oscillating, rotating, blinking, or other type of emission of light, unless designated and 22
authorized by the Administrator as indicated in paragraphs (2) through (13) of this 23
subsection. The provisions of this section do not prohibit the display and use of any lighting 24
device that may be permitted or required elsewhere in the Maryland Vehicle Law. 25 2 HOUSE BILL 1375
(6) (i) Service vehicles, waste or recycling collection vehicles, rural 1
letter carrier vehicles, slow moving farm vehicles, and tow trucks may be equipped with or 2
display yellow or amber lights or signal devices. 3
(ii) Highway maintenance and service equipment or vehicles owned 4
by the State or a local jurisdiction, or operating under a contract with the State or a local 5
jurisdiction, that are equipped with and displaying yellow or amber flashing lights while in 6
use for snow removal or the protection of highway maintenance workers may 7
simultaneously be equipped with and display green flashing lights in a number up to the 8
number of yellow or amber flashing lights equipped and displayed. 9
(III) 1. A TOW TRUCK MAY DISPLAY A PORTABLE VARIABLE 10
MESSAGING SIGN MOUNTED ON THE TOW TRUCK WHILE AT THE SCENE O F AN 11
ACCIDENT OR A DISABL ED VEHICLE. 12
2. THE PORTABLE VARIABLE MESSAGING SIGN SHALL : 13
A. CONFORM TO THE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED IN THE 14
MANUAL ON UNIFORM TR AFFIC CONTROL DEVICE S ADOPTED BY THE STATE 15
HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION UNDER § 25–104 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 16
B. DISPLAY ONLY THOSE MESSAGES APPROVED FO R USE 17
BY THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION . 18
22–218.2. 19
(a) (1) One or more amber flashing lights may be displayed: 20
(i) By a tow truck while at the scene of an accident or a disabled 21
vehicle or while towing a vehicle; and 22
(ii) By snow removal and other highway maintenance and service 23
equipment and escort vehicles. 24
(2) Highway maintenance and service equipment or vehicles owned by the 25
State or a local jurisdiction, or operating under a contract with the State or a local 26
jurisdiction, may display green flashing lights only in accordance with § 22–218(c)(6) of this 27
subtitle. 28
(3) A TOW TRUCK MAY DISPLA Y A PORTABLE VARIABL E MESSAGING 29
SIGN ONLY IN ACCORDA NCE WITH § 22–218(C)(6) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 30
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 31
October 1, 2025. 32