Title 11. Vehicle Laws -- Definitions; General Provisions — Subtitle 1. Definitions

In the Maryland Vehicle Law, the following words have the meanings indicated, unless the context requires otherwise.

“Active duty” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.

“Active service member” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.

“Administration” means the Motor Vehicle Administration.

“Administrator” means the Motor Vehicle Administrator.

“Alcohol” means any substance or substances containing any form of alcohol, including ethanol, methanol, propynol, and isopropynol.

“All–terrain vehicle” means a motor vehicle that:

“Armed forces” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.

“Autocycle” means a motor vehicle that:

“Bicycle” means:

“Boat trailer” means a vehicle that is:

“Bus” means:

“Camping trailer” means a vehicle that:

“Cancel”, as used in reference to a driver’s license issued under Title 16 of this article, means to annul or terminate, by formal action of the Administration, an individual’s driver’s license because of some error or defect in the license or because the individual no longer is entitled to the license, but without prejudice to the right of the individual to apply for a new driver’s license at any time.

“Combination” means a combination of a motor vehicle with one or more other vehicles propelled or pushed as a unit.

“Commercial driver’s license” and “CDL” means a license issued in accordance with Title 16, Subtitle 8 of this article or by another state pursuant to the federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 to an individual which authorizes the individual to drive a class of commercial motor vehicle.

“Dealer” means a person who is in the business of buying, selling, or exchanging vehicles including a person who during any 12–month period offers to sell five or more vehicles, the ownership of which was acquired for resale purposes.

“Disqualification” means a prohibition against driving a commercial motor vehicle and includes mandatory withdrawal of commercial driving privileges.

“Distributor” means any person who:

“Divided highway” means a highway that is divided into two or more roadways by:

“Domicile” means the place of a person’s true, fixed, permanent home, without any present intention of completely abandoning that home, and to which he has the intention of returning whenever absent. Domicile does not include a temporary dwelling unless there is a present intention to abandon permanently or indefinitely the former domicile.

“Drive” means to drive, operate, move, or be in actual physical control of a vehicle, including the exercise of control over or the steering of a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle.

“Driver” means any individual who drives a vehicle.

“Emergency vehicle” means any of the following vehicles that are designated by the Administration as entitled to the exemptions and privileges set forth in the Maryland Vehicle Law for emergency vehicles:

“Explosive” means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or intended to produce an explosion and that contains any oxidizing and combustive units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities, or packing that an ignition by fire, friction, concussion, percussion, or detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause a sudden generation of highly heated gases and resultant gaseous pressures capable of injuring people or property.

“Farm tractor” means a motor vehicle that is designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing farm equipment.

“Fifth wheel travel trailer” means a travel trailer that is designed to be linked to a motor vehicle for towing purposes by means of a device commonly referred to as a fifth wheel.

“Flammable liquid” means any liquid that has a flash point of 100 degrees or less Fahrenheit, as determined by a Tagliabue or equivalent closed cup test device.

“Foreign vehicle” means any vehicle that:

“Franchise” means a written arrangement, whether or not for a definite period, in which a manufacturer, distributor, or factory branch grants to a dealer or distributor a license or right to use a trade name, trademark, service mark, or related characteristic in the sale, leasing, or servicing of new vehicles.

“Fuel cell electric vehicle” means a motor vehicle that:

“Gross weight” means the weight of a vehicle and its load.

“Highway” means:

“Lawful status” means, with respect to the status of an applicant for an identification card, a moped operator’s permit, or a license to drive issued by the Administration, that the applicant has lawful status in accordance with regulations adopted by the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

“Licensed dealer”, “licensed distributor”, “licensed factory branch”, and “licensed manufacturer” mean, respectively, a dealer, distributor, factory branch, or manufacturer licensed in this State under Title 15 of this article.

“Limousine” means a vehicle that:

“Local authority” means a political subdivision or a local board or other body that, under the laws of this State, has authority to enact laws and adopt local police regulations relating to traffic.

“Low speed vehicle” means a four–wheeled motor vehicle that has a maximum speed capability that exceeds 20 miles per hour but is less than 25 miles per hour.

“Mail” means to deposit in the United States mail, properly addressed and with postage prepaid.

“Metal tire” means a tire the surface of which in contact with the highway is wholly or partly of metal or other hard, nonresilient material.

“Mobile home” means:

“Motor home” means a motor vehicle that is designed and constructed primarily to provide living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use.

“Moving violation” means:

“Multipurpose passenger vehicle” means a motor vehicle that:

“Name” means:

“New vehicle” means a vehicle:

“Nonresident” means any person who is not a resident, as that term is defined in this subtitle.

“Nonresident’s privilege to drive” means the privilege granted to a nonresident by the laws of this State to drive a motor vehicle in this State or to use in this State a vehicle owned by the nonresident.

“Operate”, as used in reference to a vehicle, means to drive, as defined in this subtitle.

“Operator”, as used in reference to a vehicle, means driver, as defined in this subtitle.

“Organ delivery vehicle” means a vehicle that is used or maintained to transport organs on an emergency basis.

“Owner”, as used in reference to a vehicle:

“Park” means to halt a vehicle, whether or not it is occupied, other than temporarily:

“Park model recreational vehicle” means a vehicle that:

“Passenger car” means a motor vehicle, except a multipurpose passenger vehicle or motorcycle, designed for carrying 10 persons or less.

“Pedestrian” means an individual afoot.

“Pole trailer” means a vehicle that:

“Police officer” means an officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of any of the provisions of the Maryland Vehicle Law or of local or other traffic laws or regulations.

“Reserve component” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.

“Resident” means any person:

“Revoke”, as used in reference to any license to drive a vehicle, means to terminate, by formal action of the Administration, an individual’s license to drive a motor vehicle on highways in this State.

“Rollback” means a vehicle that is designed with a ramp on wheels and a hydraulic lift with a capacity to haul or tow an additional vehicle.

“School bus” means a Type I school vehicle, as defined in this subtitle.

“Scooter” means a two–wheeled nonmotorized vehicle that:

“Secured party” means a person who has in his favor a security interest in a vehicle.

“Security agreement” means a written agreement that reserves or creates a security interest.

“Security interest”:

“Service member” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.

“Stand” means to halt a vehicle, whether or not it is occupied, other than temporarily:

“State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, and a province or territory of Canada.

“Stop” means:

“Street” means a highway, as defined in this subtitle.

“Suspend”, as used in reference to any license to drive a vehicle, means to withdraw temporarily, by formal action of the Administration, an individual’s license to drive a motor vehicle on highways in this State, but only for a period specifically designated by the Administration.

“Temporary lawful status” means, with respect to the status of an applicant for an identification card, a moped operator’s permit, or a license to drive issued by the Administration, that the applicant has temporary lawful status in accordance with regulations adopted by the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

“Traffic” means pedestrians, vehicles and other conveyances, and ridden or herded animals, either singly or together, while using any highway for travel.

“Traffic control device” means any sign, signal, marking, or device that:

“Traffic control signal” means any traffic control device, whether manually, electrically, or mechanically operated, by which traffic alternately is directed to stop and permitted to proceed.

“Truck” means a motor vehicle, except a multipurpose passenger vehicle, that is designed, used, or maintained primarily to carry property.

“Truck tractor” means the noncargo carrying power unit that operates in combination with a semitrailer or trailer, except that a truck tractor and semitrailer engaged in the transportation of automobiles or boats may transport motor vehicles or boats on part of the power unit.

“Type II school vehicle” means a school vehicle that:

“Uniformed services” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.

“Used vehicle” means any vehicle that is not a new vehicle, as defined in this subtitle.

“Vehicle identification number” means the numerals, letters, or combination of numerals and letters on a vehicle that the Administration designates for the purpose of identifying the vehicle.

“Veteran” has the meaning stated in § 9–901 of the State Government Article.