# COMAR Title 11 — Department of Transportation

## Subtitle 07 — Maryland Transportation Authority

### Chapter 04 — Open Meetings

**Authority:** Transportation Article, §4-205; State Government Article, §10-507; Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: June 7, 1993 (20:11 Md. R. 914)

#### Regulation .01 General.

*COMAR 11.07.04.01*

This chapter contains procedures regarding the conduct of those attending open meetings, and the recording and broadcasting of open meetings.

#### Regulation .02 Definitions.

*COMAR 11.07.04.02*

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

  (1) "Authority" means the Maryland Transportation Authority.

  (2) “Open session” means any meeting of the Authority required to be open to the public pursuant to the Open Meetings Law, State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 5, Annotated Code of Maryland.

#### Regulation .03 Public Attendance.

*COMAR 11.07.04.03*

A. The general public is invited to attend and observe any open session of the Authority.

B. Except in instances when the Authority expressly invited public testimony, questions, comments, or other forms of public participation, or when public participation is otherwise authorized by law, a member of the public attending an open session may not participate in the session.

#### Regulation .04 Disruptive Conduct.

*COMAR 11.07.04.04*

A. An individual attending an open session of the Authority may not engage in any conduct, including but not limited to visual demonstrations such as the display of placards, signs, or banners, that disrupts the session or interferes with the right of members of the public to attend and observe the session.

B. The presiding officer may:

  (1) Order an individual who engages in conduct prohibited by §A of this regulation or who violates any other regulation concerning the conduct of the open session to be removed from the session;

  (2) Request police or other assistance to restore order; and

  (3) Recess the open session while order is restored.

#### Regulation .05 Recording, Photocopying, and Broadcasting of Open Sessions.

*COMAR 11.07.04.05*

A. A member of the public, including any representative of the news media, may:

  (1) Record discussions of the Authority at an open session by means of a tape recorder or other recording device if the device does not create noise that disturbs members of the Authority or others attending the open session;

  (2) Photograph or videotape the proceedings of the Authority at an open session if the camera is operated without excessively bright artificial light or noise that disturbs members of the Authority or others attending the open session.

B. A representative of the news media may broadcast or televise the proceedings of the Authority at an open session if the equipment used:

  (1) Is operated without excessively bright artificial light that disturbs members of the Authority or others attending the open session; and

  (2) Does not create noise that disturbs members of the Authority or others attending the open session.

C. The presiding officer may restrict the movement of an individual who is using a recording device, camera, or broadcasting or televising equipment if the restriction is necessary to maintain the orderly conduct of the open session.

#### Regulation .06 Recordings Not Part of Record.

*COMAR 11.07.04.06*

A recording of an open session made by a member of the public, including a representative of the news media, or any transcript derived from a recording, is not a part of the record of any proceeding of the open session.