310/Maryland Manual

transportation facilities and services in Maryland
and to plan for and provide new facilities and
services.

Rail Freight Services: The Administration funds
the rehabilitation of freight lines, subsidizes their
operations, and purchases rail lines when
authorized by the General Assembly. It works
closely with other state agencies, local
governments, and railroad transportation
providers and users to enhance the role of railroads
in economic and industrial development
throughout the State. In addition, it monitors and
reviews proposals for railroad freight service
changes or abandonments that would affect local
communities and shippers.

Rail Passenger Services: The Administration
administers operating subsidies for commuter
trains, renovates stations, and parking areas, and
coordinates plans for improvements to railroad
lines and services in the Baltimore region.

Periodically, the Administration issues the State
Rail Plan, a comprehensive summary of its activi-
ties and objectives. A limited number of copies are
available.

Brochures of commuter service fares and sched-
ules may be obtained by calling 1-800-325-RAIL.

MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION

Mati Koiva, Administrator
Agnes Stoicos, Chief Deputy Administrator

6601 Ritchie Highway, N.E.
Glen Burnie 21062 Telephone: 768-7000

The Office of the Commissioner of Motor Vehi-
cles was established by Chapter 207, Acts of 1910.
The Office became the Department of Motor
Vehicles by Chapter 1007, Acts of 1943. By
Chapter 526, Acts of 1970, the Department was
placed within the Deparlmeni of Transportation
and renamed the Motor Vehicle Administration
(Code Transportation Article, secs. 12-101
through 12-209).

Welcome to Maryland, a pamphlet containing
information designed to aid new Maryland resi-
dents in obtaining a driver's license and vehicle
registration, is available free of charge from
MVA's Public Information Office (768-7386).

DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES

Rebecca Cody, Director Telephone: 768-7421

The Division of Consumer Services licenses
motor vehicle dealers, manufacturers, wreckers
and scrap processors, professional driving schools,
and title service agents. With its licensing and
investigation powers, the Division ensures that
dealers and others in the automotive business
honor their agreements and warranties. Consumer
complaints are handled by the Division.

DIVISION OF VEHICLE
REGISTRATION AND TITLING

Rita McMahon, Director Telephone: 768-7395

The Division titles and registers all passenger
and commercial vehicles in Maryland. It collects
the five percent excise tax imposed on vehicles
titled in the State and the annual registration fees,
and also issues registration tags.

DIVISION OF DRIVER
EXAMINATION AND LICENSING

Howard McClanathan, Director
Telephone: 768-7254

The Division of Driver Examination and Licens-
ing is responsible for conducting examinations of
all new drivers and renewing motor vehicle opera-
tors' licenses.

Examinations include testing of the applicant's
visual acuity, knowledge of motor vehicle laws,
and ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.

Maryland licenses are now classified according
to the type of vehicle the driver will operate. The
five classes of licenses are Class A—Required to
operate tractor-trailers; Class B—Required to op-
erate trucks over 20,000 pounds gross weight;
Class C—Required to operate buses; Class D—
Required to operate automobiles, station wagons,
and trucks up to 20,000 pounds gross weight; and
Class E—Required to operate motorcycles. Pro-
vided the licensee meets age requirements, any
class license will authorize the licensee to operate
vehicles in that particular class, except in class E.

Examinations are conducted at the Glen Burnie
Headquarters and at regional offices in Baltimore
City, Chesapeake City, Cumberland, Forestville,
Easton, Gaithersburg, Hagerstown, Largo, Salis-
bury, and Waldorf. Examining and licensing teams
also conduct driver examinations at fourteen other
locations throughout the State.

The Division also ensures that each school bus is
inspected for safety three times a year.