EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0385*
SENATE BILL 385
R5 5lr1714
CF HB 234
By: Senators Love and Gile
Introduced and read first time: January 17, 2025
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
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; and generally relating to penalties for causing 5
the serious physical injury or death of a vulnerable individual. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Transportation 8
Section 21–901.3 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Transportation 14
21–901.3. 15
(a) In this section, “vulnerable individual” means: 16
(1) A pedestrian, including an individual who is lawfully: 17
(i) Actively working on a highway or a utility facility along a 18
highway; 19
(ii) Providing emergency services on a highway; or 20
(iii) On a sidewalk or footpath; 21
2 SENATE BILL 385
(2) An individual who is lawfully riding or leading an animal on a highway, 1
shoulder, crosswalk, or sidewalk; or 2
(3) An individual who is lawfully operating or riding any of the following 3
on a highway, shoulder, crosswalk, or sidewalk: 4
(i) A bicycle; 5
(ii) A farm tractor or farm equipment; 6
(iii) A play vehicle; 7
(iv) A motor scooter; 8
(v) A motorcycle; 9
(vi) An animal–drawn vehicle; 10
(vii) An EPAMD; or 11
(viii) A wheelchair. 12
(b) An individual may not cause the serious physical injury or death of a 13
vulnerable individual as a result of the individual operating a motor vehicle in violation of 14
any provision of this title. 15
(c) (1) An individual charged with a violation of subsection (b) of this section: 16
(i) Must appear in court; and 17
(ii) May not prepay the fine. 18
(2) An individual convicted of a violation of subsection (b) of this section is 19
subject to IMPRISONMENT NOT EXC EEDING 2 MONTHS OR a fine not exceeding $2,000 20
OR BOTH. 21
(d) In addition to the penalties provided under subsection (c) of this section, the 22
court may order an individual convicted of a violation of subsection (b) of this section to: 23
(1) Participate in a motor vehicle safety course; and 24
(2) Perform up to 150 hours of community service. 25
(e) The Administration shall suspend the driver’s license of an individual 26
convicted of a violation of subsection (b) of this section for at least 7 days but not more than 27
6 months. 28
SENATE BILL 385 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
October 1, 2025. 2