840                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                                Ch. 395

CHAPTER 395
(Senate Bill 417)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 14-102 of Article
66-1/2 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1970 Replacement Volume), title
"Vehicle Laws," subtitle "14, Size, Weight and Load," to provide that safety
equipment installed on certain vehicles shall not be included in the overall
maximum width limitations imposed on such vehicles, and to correct certain
language therein.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 14-102 of Article 66-1/2 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1970 Replacement Volume), title "Vehicle Laws," subtitle "14. Size,
Weight and Load," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments,
to read as follows:

14-102.

(a) No vehicle, other than farm equipment and implements of husbandry, in
excess of 96 inches in width, EXCLUSIVE OF APPROVED SAFETY
EQUIPMENT, including the load thereof, except traction engines and any load of
forage crops in connection with harvesting operations where the distance of hauling
is less than 5 miles on highways of the State, shall be operated on any highway in
this State, and no traction engine in excess of 100 inches in width, EXCLUSIVE
OF APPROVED SAFETY EQUIPMENT, shall be operated on any highway,
without the special permission of the State [Roads Commission] HIGHWAY
ADMINISTRATION in the case of a road under its jurisdiction, or the
permission of the city authorities in the case of a city street, or the permission of
the county authorities in the case of a county highway. Provided, however, that
nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the operation upon any
street or highway in this State, of a motor vehicle loaded with tobacco hogsheads
and having an overall width when loaded not in excess of 103 inches,
EXCLUSIVE OF APPROVED SAFETY EQUIPMENT. Providing further that
nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the operation upon any
street or highway in this State of farm equipment, implements of husbandry, or
motor vehicles transporting farm equipment or implements of husbandry.

(b)  Incorporated cities, towns, and municipalities may by ordinance permit the
operation within their respective jurisdiction of any motor bus with a maximum
outside width of not to exceed 102 inches, EXCLUSIVE OF APPROVED
SAFETY EQUIPMENT.

(c)   Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the operation of
passenger buses upon the highways of this State which are designated as the State
primary system, but not to include those highways which are part of the national
system of interstate and defense highways, having an overall width of 102 inches,
exclusive of APPROVED safety equipment. If federal law and regulations
thereunder permit the operation of passenger buses of widths in excess of 96
inches, EXCLUSIVE OF APPROVED SAFETY EQUIPMENT, on the national
system of interstate and defense highways, the State [Roads Commission, by
special or general order,) HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION may permit the
operation of passenger buses having an overall width of 102 inches, exclusive of
APPROVED safety equipment, on the federal interstate and defense highways.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect July 1, 1973.