Part 1 – Definitions; General Provisions
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 31-1 (2026)
§ 31-1 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Abandoned vehicle.
“Abandoned vehicle” has the meaning stated in State Transportation Article (“Maryland Vehicle Law”) § 25-201.
(b)Commissioner.
“Commissioner” means the Police Commissioner of Baltimore City or the Commissioner’s designee.
(c)Private property.
(1)
“Private property” includes all property not included within subsection (d) of this section, where the owner can be readily ascertained by reference to the records of the Bureau of Assessments or elsewhere.
(2)
In case:
(i)
the owner of property:
(A)
cannot be so located; or
(B)
if located, is out of the City or cannot be reached by certified mail or does not respond to it; or
(C)
otherwise is beyond the jurisdiction of City authorities; or
(ii)
the property is apparently abandoned,
then, for the purposes of this subtitle that property is deemed public property included within subsection (d) of this section.
(d)Street.
(1)In general.
“Street” has the meaning stated in <cite data-path="|general|1|1|1-109">§ 1-109 {“Street”}</cite> of the City Code’s <cite data-path="|general">General Provisions Article</cite>.
(2)Inclusions.
“Street”also includes:
(i)
publicly-owned vacant lots; or
(ii)
public property part of which is vacant.
History: Ord. 69-343
History: 99-421
History: Ord. 06-347
History: Ord. 15-435
History: Ord. 18-195
History: Ord. 22-125
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 31-2 (2026)
§ 31-2 Liability of lessors and other registered owners.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Lessors’ liability.
(1)
In this subsection, “lessor” means a person, corporation, firm, agency, association, or organization that rents or leases motor vehicles.
(2)
A lessor, together with any customer or operator who rents or leases a motor vehicle from it, is jointly and severally liable for fines or penalties imposed for violations of parking ordinances that have been committed by that customer or operator.
(3)
Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent the lessor from recovering from the customer or operator the amount of any fine or penalty paid under this section.
(b)Registered owner’s liability.
In any prosecution of a violation of any parking or standing law or regulation, proof that the vehicle described in the citation was parked in violation of the law or regulation, together with proof that the defendant named in the citation was at the time of violation the registered owner of the vehicle, constitutes a prima facie presumption that the registered owner of the vehicle was the person who parked the vehicle at the point where and for the time during which the violation occurred.
History: Ord. 69-343
History: Ord. 74-768
History: Ord. 99-399
History: Ord. 06-247
Balt., Md., Code art. 31, § 31-3 to 31-5 (2026)
§§ 31-3 to 31-5LinkCopy Citation
Reserved