1484                             Laws of Maryland                       Ch. 534

(b) The provisions of this article declaring maximum speed limi-

tations shall not be construed to relieve the plaintiff in any action

from the burden of proving negligence on the part of the defendant
as a proximate cause of an accident.

Part IX—Reckless and Negligent Driving, Driving While
Intoxicated, and Manslaughter by Vehicle

§ 11-901. Reckless and negligent driving.

(a)    Any person who operates a motor vehicle in wanton or will-
ful disregard for the safety of persons or property, or in a manner to
indicate such disregard, shall be guilty of reckless driving, a mis-
demeanor.

(b)    Any person who operates a motor vehicle in a careless or
imprudent manner, so as to endanger the property or life or limb of
any person, shall be guilty of negligent driving, a misdemeanor.

§ 11-902. Driving while intoxicated or while driving ability is
impaired by consumption of alcohol OR UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF DRUGS.

(a)    It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or attempt to
drive or to be in actual physical control of any vehicle within this
State while he is in an intoxicated condition, or under the influence
of narcotic drugs.

(b)    It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or attempt to
drive or to be in actual physical control of any vehicle within this
State while his driving ability is impaired by the consumption of
alcohol.

Sec. 11-902.1. Persons under the influence of drugs.

It is unlawful for any person to be in actual physical control of or
to undertake to drive a vehicle while under the influence of any nar-
cotic drug or while under the influence of any other drug to a degree

which renders him incapable of safely driving a vehicle. The fact

that any person charged with a violation of this section is or has been
entitled to use the drug under the laws of this State shall not consti-
tute a defense against any charge of violating this section.

(C) IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO
DRIVE OR ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OR TO BE IN ACTUAL PHYSI-
CAL CONTROL OF ANY VEHICLE WITHIN THIS STATE
WHILE HE IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY NARCOTIC
DRUG OR WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY OTHER
DRUG TO A DEGREE WHICH RENDERS HIM INCAPABLE OF
SAFELY DRIVING A VEHICLE. THE FACT THAT ANY PER-
SON CHARGED WITH A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS
OR HAS BEEN ENTITLED TO USE THE DRUG UNDER THE
LAWS OF THIS STATE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A DE-
FENSE AGAINST ANY CHARGE OF VIOLATING THIS SEC-
TION UNLESS SUCH PERSON WAS UNAWARE THAT THE
DRUG WOULD RENDER HIM INCAPABLE OF SAFELY
DRIVING A VEHICLE.