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.
*hb0234*
HOUSE BILL 234
R5 5lr0746
(PRE–FILED) CF SB 385
By: Delegate Stein Delegates Stein, Boyce, Healey, and R. Lewis
Requested: September 6, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 5, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Laws – Injury or Death of Vulnerable Individual – Penalties 2
FOR the purpose of altering the penalties for causing the serious physical injury or death 3
of a vulnerable individual as the result of an individual operating a motor vehicle in 4
violation of certain provisions of law a certain manner; including an individual who 5
is lawfully operating or riding a golf cart or a unicycle on a highway, shoulder, 6
crosswalk, or sidewalk as a vulnerable individual; and generally relating to penalties 7
for causing the serious physical injury or death of a vulnerable individual. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Transportation 10
Section 21–901.3 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 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
21–901.3. 17
(a) In this section, “vulnerable individual” means: 18
2 HOUSE BILL 234
(1) A pedestrian, including an individual who is lawfully: 1
(i) Actively working on a highway or a utility facility along a 2
highway; 3
(ii) Providing emergency services on a highway; or 4
(iii) On a sidewalk or footpath; 5
(2) An individual who is lawfully riding or leading an animal on a highway, 6
shoulder, crosswalk, or sidewalk; or 7
(3) An individual who is lawfully operating or riding any of the following 8
on a highway, shoulder, crosswalk, or sidewalk: 9
(i) A bicycle OR UNICYCLE; 10
(ii) A farm tractor or farm equipment; 11
(iii) A play vehicle; 12
(iv) A motor scooter; 13
(v) A motorcycle; 14
(vi) An animal–drawn vehicle; 15
(vii) An EPAMD; or 16
(viii) A wheelchair; OR 17
(IX) A GOLF CART. 18
(b) An individual may not cause the serious physical injury or death of a 19
vulnerable individual as a result of the individual operating a motor vehicle in: 20
(1) IN A NEGLIGENT MANNER ; AND 21
(2) IN violation of any provision of this title. 22
(c) (1) An individual charged with a violation of subsection (b) of this section: 23
(i) Must appear in court; and 24
(ii) May not prepay the fine. 25
HOUSE BILL 234 3
(2) An individual convicted of a violation of subsection (b) of this section is 1
subject to IMPRISONMENT NOT EXC EEDING 2 MONTHS OR a fine not exceeding $2,000 2
OR BOTH. 3
(d) In addition to the penalties provided under subsection (c) of this section, the 4
court may order an individual convicted of a violation of subsection (b) of this section to: 5
(1) Participate in a motor vehicle safety course; and 6
(2) Perform up to 150 hours of community service. 7
(e) The Administration shall suspend the driver’s license of an individual 8
convicted of a violation of subsection (b) of this section for at least 7 days but not more than 9
6 months. 10
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 11
October 1, 2025. 12
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.