# Transportation (GTR)

## Title 24. Vehicle Laws -- Size, Weight, and Load; Highway Preservation

### Subtitle 2. Regulation of Use of Highways

#### Section 24-201

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) "County road" has the meaning stated in Sec. 8-101 of this article.

(c) "State highway" has the meaning stated in Sec. 8-101 of this article.

#### Section 24-202

A person may not drive or move any vehicle or other object on or across any State highway or county road if the vehicle or object is constructed or equipped so that it might do unusual damage to the highway or road.

#### Section 24-203

(a)

  (1) The State Highway Administration may adopt rules, regulations, and orders necessary for the preservation of State highways.

  (2) These rules, regulations, and orders may include provisions to regulate:

    (i) The use of State highways by vehicles or other objects that cause more than ordinary wear and tear of the highways; or

    (ii) The use of any State highway that is in danger.

(b) Before any rule, regulation, or order may be adopted under this section, it shall be published once a week for 3 successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the affected highway lies.

(c) A person may not knowingly violate any rule, regulation, or order adopted under this section.

#### Section 24-204

(a) If the State Highway Administration or a local authority finds that a highway under its jurisdiction or maintenance is in danger of serious damage from deterioration, rain, snow, or any other condition, the State Highway Administration or, by a resolution adopted by its governing body, the local authority may:

  (1) Prohibit the operation of vehicles on the highway;

  (2) Restrict the weight of vehicles permitted to drive on the highway; or

  (3) Reduce the maximum speed limit for vehicles operating on the highway.

(b)

  (1) In this subsection, "vehicles supplying emergency service" means any vehicle designated by the local authority as a vehicle supplying emergency service, such as supplying fuel, fuel/oil, or milk.

  (2) Notwithstanding any resolution adopted by a local authority under subsection (a) of this section, vehicles supplying emergency service may use the highway if written permission is obtained from the local authority.

(c) A restriction imposed by the State Highway Administration or a local authority under this section may not restrict the right to use a highway for:

  (1) More than 60 consecutive days; or

  (2) More than 90 days during any one calendar year.

(d)

  (1) If the State Highway Administration or a local authority imposes a restriction under this section, it shall place and maintain signs at each end of that part of the highway affected by the restriction. The signs shall state the restriction imposed on the use of the highway.

  (2) A restriction adopted under this section is not effective unless the required signs are posted.

(e)

  (1) Unless the person has a written permit from the State Highway Administration or the appropriate local authority, a person, whether the owner of the vehicle, the person having charge and control over the vehicle, or an employee or agent of either, may not drive or cause to be driven any vehicle on any highway in violation of any restriction imposed under this section.

  (2) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any owner or person in control of a vehicle that is in violation of any restriction imposed under this section is liable to the State Highway Administration or the appropriate local authority for all damages sustained by a highway as a result of the violation.

  (3) In the trial of a person charged with a violation of this section, oral testimony of the existence and contents of signs posted as required by this section is prima facie evidence of the validity of the restrictions stated on them.

  (4) This section applies regardless of any public general or public local law to the contrary.

#### Section 24-205

If necessary for public safety, the State Highway Administration may prohibit the use of any highway bridge in this State by any person, vehicle, or class of vehicles.

#### Section 24-206

(a) The State Highway Administration or a local authority may regulate the weight and speed of any vehicle passing over any bridge or culvert under its jurisdiction, by placing and maintaining signs at each end of the bridge or culvert as provided in this section.

(b)

  (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a local authority may not impose any restriction under this section without approval of the State Highway Administration.

  (2) The following local authorities do not require the approval of the State Highway Administration, if they submit to that Administration, at the time of placing any sign under this section, a statement that a structural analysis has shown the necessity for the particular restriction:

    (i) Allegany County;

    (ii) Anne Arundel County;

    (iii) Baltimore City;

    (iv) Baltimore County;

    (v) Carroll County;

    (vi) Frederick County;

    (vii) Harford County;

    (viii) Howard County;

    (ix) Montgomery County;

    (x) Prince George's County;

    (xi) St. Mary's County; and

    (xii) Washington County.

  (3) The required statement shall recite that the analysis has been performed by a professional engineer experienced in the area of bridge design and shall include the engineer's name, professional engineer's license number, the date the computations were performed, and the date of the last inspection on which the computations were based.

(c) The signs required under subsection (a) of this section shall be those set forth as standard applications for vehicle weight and speed restrictions in the manual on uniform traffic control devices adopted by the State Highway Administration pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 25-104 of this article.

(d)

  (1) Unless the person has a written permit from the State Highway Administration or the appropriate local authority, a person, whether the owner of the vehicle, the person having charge and control over the vehicle, or an employee or agent of either, may not drive or cause to be driven any vehicle over a bridge or culvert in violation of any restriction imposed under this section.

  (2) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any owner or person in control of a vehicle that is in violation of any restriction imposed under this section is liable to the State Highway Administration or the appropriate local authority for all damages sustained by a bridge, culvert, or highway as a result of the violation.

  (3) In the trial of a person charged with a violation of this section, oral testimony of the existence and contents of signs posted as required by this section is prima facie evidence of the validity of the restrictions stated on them.

#### Section 24-207

(a) Unless the person has a written permit from the State Highway Administration, a person, whether the owner of the vehicle, the person having charge and control over the vehicle, or an employee or agent of either, may not use any State highway to test any truck, whether for durability, speed, fuel consumption, or otherwise.

(b) The State Highway Administration may issue a permit if, in its judgment:

  (1) The highway over which the test will be conducted will not be unduly damaged; and

  (2) The safety of the traveling public will not be materially adversely affected by the test.

(c) The State Highway Administration:

  (1) Shall designate in the permit the route on which and the day and hour during which the tests may be conducted; and

  (2) May impose additional regulations and limitations to promote the safety of the traveling public and prevent undue damage to the highway under its jurisdiction.

(d) For each vehicle to be tested, the permit fee is $25.

(e) A permit is not required for the testing of trucks serviced or repaired by a garage licensed under Title 17, Subtitle 8 of the Business Regulation Article if:

  (1) All laws of this article are observed by a garage owner in regard to size, weight, and speed restrictions of the particular type of truck tested; and

  (2) All local motor vehicle traffic, speed, and safety ordinances are complied with.

#### Section 24-208

(a) Any person who drives or moves any vehicle or any other object on any State, county, or municipal highway is liable for all damage that the State, county, or municipal highway sustains as a result of:

  (1) Any illegal driving or moving of the vehicle or object;

  (2) The driving or moving of any vehicle or object that weighs more than the maximum statutory weight specified in this title, unless the overweight is authorized by a permit issued under this title and the vehicle is operated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the permit; or

  (3) The driving or moving of any vehicle or object that exceeds the maximum statutory height or width specified in this title, unless the oversize is authorized by a permit issued under this title and the vehicle is operated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the permit.

(b) Any person liable for damages in excess of $25,000 under subsection (a)(3) of this section is also liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000.

(c) If the driver is not the owner of the vehicle or object, but is driving or moving it with the express or implied permission of the owner, the owner and driver are jointly and severally liable for the damage to the State, county, or municipal highway and any civil penalty assessed under this section.

(d) A civil action for damages to a State, county, or municipal highway and any civil penalty under this section may be brought by the authority in control of it.

#### Section 24-209

(a) The State Highway Administration may conduct appropriate studies to determine whether the safety and general welfare of a residential community are threatened by noise, vibration, or incidence of truck traffic on any State highway. In determining whether or not to conduct such a study, the Administration shall consider the number of complaints about truck traffic received, if any, from residents of an area.

(b) If the State Highway Administration determines that a threat exists and that the safety and general welfare of the residential community would be promoted by the adoption of restrictions on the use of the State highway by trucks, the Administration may establish routes, speed limits, time restrictions, weight restrictions, or other measures with respect to truck traffic on the State highway, which will minimize the adverse effects of that traffic on the residential area or cause that traffic to avoid the residential area entirely.

(c) Under this section, truck traffic may be prohibited entirely on any State highway or part of a State highway, if an adequately functional alternate route is available to carry the truck traffic, taking into consideration the amount of additional fuel that would be required over the alternate route and the economic impact on the citizens of this State caused by the alternate route.

(d) The provisions of this section:

  (1) Do not apply to any Class E (truck) vehicles of 10,000 pounds or less gross vehicle weight; and

  (2) Do not preclude the making of local deliveries of supplies or services in any residential communities.

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Md. Code Ann., Transp. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)