Marvin Mandel, Governor                       1365

CHAPTER 450
(Senate Bill 708)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 12-218
(c) of Article 66½ of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1970
Replacement Volume and 1971 Supplement), title "Vehicle Laws,"
subtitle "12. Equipment of Vehicles," subheading "Part II. Lamps
and Other Lighting Equipment," to prohibit the emission of a
solid beam light on any vehicle or equipment unless designated
and authorized by the Motor Vehicle Administrator or as provided
elsewhere in this article.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That subsection (c) of Section 12-218 of Article 66½ of the Anno-
tated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume AND 1971
SUPPLEMENT), title "Vehicle Laws," subtitle "Equipment of
Vehicles," subheading "Part II. Lamps and Other Lighting Equip-
ment," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amend-
ments, to read as follows:

12-218.

(c) No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon
any highway which is equipped with or displays any light or signal
device which is capable of DESIGNED TO EMIT AN oscillating,
rotating, blinking or [any] other type of emission of light [other
than a solid beam] unless designated and authorized by the [Com-
missioner] Motor Vehicle Administrator as [follows.] indicated in
subparagraphs (1) through (6) below. The provisions of this section
shall not be deemed to prohibit the display and use of any lighting
device which may be permitted or required elsewhere in this article.

(1)  VEHICLES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER
CITY, COUNTY, STATE OR FEDERAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH AND DISPLAY RED
AND BLUE LIGHTS OR SIGNAL DEVICES.

(2)  VEHICLES OF CITY, COUNTY, STATE OR FEDERAL
FIRE DEPARTMENTS OR DULY CONSTITUTED VOLUN-
TEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS OR RESCUE SQUADS MAY BE
EQUIPPED WITH OR DISPLAY RED AND/OR WHITE LIGHTS
OR SIGNAL DEVICES.

(3)  AMBULANCES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH OR DISPLAY
RED AND/OR WHITE LIGHTS OR SIGNAL DEVICES.

(4)  AUTHORIZED SERVICE VEHICLES, RURAL LETTER
CARRIER, SLOW MOVING FARM VEHICLES AND TOW
TRUCKS MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH OR DISPLAY YELLOW
OR AMBER LIGHTS OR SIGNAL DEVICES.

(5)  SAID BLUE, RED, OR WHITE LIGHTS OR SIGNAL DE-
VICES MAY ONLY BE FLASHED OR OSCILLATED OR
OTHERWISE USED WHILE ENROUTE TO, AT THE SCENE
OF, OR RETURNING FROM AN EMERGENCY AND SHALL
NOT RELIEVE THE AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE
FROM OTHERWISE GIVING AN AUDIBLE WARNING AS RE-
QUIRED ELSEWHERE IN THIS ARTICLE.