Legislative Alert March 11, 2006 - HB 1383/SB 429 - Right-of-Way -
Penalties for Failure to Yield
There are three bills advocated by ABATE of Maryland, Inc for the 2006 Maryland
General Assembly session. They are:
- Right-of-Way Violation Penalties (SB 429/HB 1383)
- The Helmet Law Modification (SB 163/HB 727)
- Helmet Warning Label (SB 538/HB 1007)
All three bills have been filed in both the Maryland Senate and House of
Delegates.
The Senate version of all three bills will be heard in the Senate Judicial
Proceedings Committee Hearing Room on February 16, 2006 at 1 pm.
In the House of Delegates, two bills have been scheduled for hearings. They are
the Helmet Bill and the Helmet Warning Label Bill. The hearings will be
conducted in the House of Delegates Environmental Matters Committee Hearing Room
on February 28, 2006 at 1 pm. The third House bill that addresses Right-of-Way
Violation Penalties has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
If possible, make plans to attend these hearings. It is essential for us to
show strong support for these bills. Also, contact House of Delegates
Environmental Matters Committee members, Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
members, and your local representatives and let them know that you want them to
support these bills.
The links that follow will help you to locate the committee members and your
local representatives.
Maryland General Assembly
http://mlis.state.md.us/#gena
Find Your Legislators
http://mdelect.net/
http://mlis.state.md.us/cgi-win/mail32.exe
For your convenience, lists of the committee members are located at the end
of this message.
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SB 429/HB 1383 - Vehicle Laws - Right-of-Way - Penalties for Failure to Yield
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The right-of-way violation penalties bill provides for increased penalties for
right-of-way violations when the violation contributes to an accident that
results in bodily injury or death of an another person.
Under current law, the penalty for violating the right-of-way of another vehicle
is $60 and one point against the offenders' license. Even when a right-of-way
violation is combined with another charge like negligent driving, the maximum
fines and penalties for both charges would be $630 and seven points.
In many accidents of this nature, law enforcement and the courts cannot justify
a higher charge that would include more severe penalties and the violators are
given only minimal fines and penalties. This bill seeks to give the courts the
tools they need to penalize violators appropriately when serious injury or death
occurs.
Bill Information Senate:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/sb0429.htm
Bill Information House:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/hb1383.htm
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SB 163/HB 727 - Vehicle Laws - Protective Headgear Requirement for Motorcycle
Riders - Exceptions
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The motorcycle helmet bill will eliminate mandatory motorcycle helmet use by
adult riders. The 2006 bill includes some language that is similar to the
recently enacted Pennsylvania helmet bill. These provisions are that a rider
must be over 21 and must have either two years of riding experience or must have
taken a motorcycle safety course. It also includes provisions for passengers
and three-wheeled vehicles.
Bill Information Senate:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/sb0163.htm
Bill Information House:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/hb0727.htm
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SB 538/HB 1007 - Vehicle Laws - Protective Headgear for Motorcycle Riders -
Required Warning
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This bill would require a manufacturer warning on the outside of helmets sold in
Maryland to include the following warnings:
- May not withstand impact above 13 MPH
- May not prevent head injury
- May not prevent skull fracture in a crash
- May break neck in a crash
- May cause neck, back, or chest pain
Bill Information Senate:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/sb0538.htm
Bill Information House:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/hb1007.htm
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Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
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Brian E. Frosh, District 16, Montgomery
Chair (410) 841-3124, (301) 858-3124
e-mail:
brian_frosh@senate.state.md.us
Leo E. Green, District 23, Prince George's
Vice-Chair (410) 841-3631, (301) 858-3631
e-mail:
leo_green@senate.state.md.us
Jennie M. Forehand, District 17, Montgomery
(301) 858-3134, (410) 841-3134
e-mail:
jennie_forehand@senate.state.md.us
* Robert J. Garagiola, District 15, Montgomery
(301) 858-3169, (410) 841-3169
e-mail:
rob_garagiola@senate.state.md.us
* John A. Giannetti, Jr., District 21, Anne Arundel & Prince George's
(301) 858-3141, (410) 841-3141
e-mail:
john_giannetti@senate.state.md.us
* Larry E. Haines, District 5, Baltimore County, Carroll
(410) 841-3683, (301) 858-3683
e-mail:
larry_haines@senate.state.md.us
Ralph M. Hughes, District 40, Baltimore City
(410) 841-3656, (301) 858-3656
e-mail:
ralph_hughes@senate.state.md.us
* Nancy Jacobs, District 34, Cecil & Harford
(410) 841-3158, (301) 858-3158
e-mail:
nancy_jacobs@senate.state.md.us
* Philip C. Jimeno, District 31, Anne Arundel
(410) 841-3658, (301) 858-3658
e-mail:
philip_jimeno@senate.state.md.us
* Alex X. Mooney, District 3, Frederick & Washington
(301) 858-3575, (410) 841-3575
e-mail:
alex_mooney@senate.state.md.us
* Norman R. Stone
(410) 841-3587, (301) 858-3587
e-mail: norman.stone@senate.state.md.us
* Indicates a sponsor of SB 163.
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House of Delegates Environmental Matters Committee
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Maggie L.McIntosh, Chair (410) 841-3990, (301) 858-3990,
e-mail:
maggie_mcintosh@house.state.md.us (Baltimore City)
James E. Malone, Jr., Vice-Chair (410) 841-3378, (301) 858-3378,
e-mail:
james_malone@house.state.md.us (Baltimore & Howard)
* Rudolph C. Cane, (410) 841-3427, (301) 858-3427,
e-mail:
rudolph_cane@house.state.md.us (Dorchester & Wicomico)
* John W. E. Cluster, Jr., (410) 841-3365, (301) 848-3365,
e-mail:
john_cluster@house.state.md.us (Baltimore)
* Barry Glassman, (410) 841-3289, (301) 858-3289,
e-mail:
barry_glassman@house.state.md.us (Harford)
* Patrick N. Hogan, (410) 841-3240, (301) 858-3240,
e-mail:
patrick_n_hogan@house.state.md.us (Frederick)
* J. B. Jennings, (410) 841-3334, (301) 858-3334,
e-mail:
jb_jennings@house.state.md.us (Baltimore & Harford)
* Tony McConkey, (410) 841-3223, (301) 858-3223,
e-mail:
tony_mcconkey@house.state.md.us (Anne Arundel)
* Rosetta C. Parker, (410) 841-3326, (301) 858-3326,
e-mail:
rosetta_parker@house.state.md.us (Prince George's)
* Richard A. Sossi, (410) 841-3543, (301) 858-3543,
e-mail:
richard_sossi@house.state.md.us (Caroline, Cecil, Kent, & Queen
Anne's)
* Paul S. Stull, (410) 841-3107, (301) 858-3107,
e-mail:
paul_stull@house.state.md.us (Frederick)
* Michael H. Weir, Jr., (410) 841-3328, (301) 858-3328,
e-mail:
michael_weir@house.state.md.us (Baltimore)
John S. Arnick, (410) 841-3458, (301) 858-3458,
e-mail:
john_arnick@house.state.md.us (Baltimore)
Elizabeth Bobo, (410) 841-3205, (301) 858-3205,
e-mail:
elizabeth_bobo@house.state.md.us (Howard)
William A. Bronrott, (410) 841-3019, (301) 858-3019
e-mail: william.bronrott@house.state.md.us
(Montgomery)
Virginia P. Clagett, (410) 841-3211, (301) 858-3211,
e-mail:
virginia_clagett@house.state.md.us (Anne Arundel)
Barbara A. Frush, (410) 841-3114, (301) 858-3114,
e-mail:
barbara_frush@house.state.md.us (Anne Arundel & Prince George's)
Marvin E. Holmes, Jr., (410) 841-3098, (301) 858-3098,
e-mail:
marvin_holmes@house.state.md.us (Prince George's)
Jane E. Lawton, (410) 841-3638, (301) 858-3638,
e-mail: jane.lawton@house.state.md.us
(Montgomery)
Karen S. Montgomery, (410) 841-3380, (301) 858-3380,
e-mail:
karen_montgomery@house.state.md.us (Montgomery)
Catherine E. Pugh, (410) 841-3030, (301) 858-3030,
e-mail: catherine.pugh@house.state.md.us
( Baltimore city)
Joan F. Stern, (410) 841-3045, (301) 858-3045,
e-mail:
joan_stern@house.state.md.us (Montgomery)
* Indicates a sponsor of HB 727
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The ABATE of Maryland, Inc. web site can be located at
http://www.abate-of-maryland.org.
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