MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

751

FOR the purpose of increasing the fine imposed on a
person who is convicted of unlawfully operating or
using an off—road vehicle under certain

circumstances.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 27 — Crimes and Punishments

Section 578

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1971 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 578 of Article 27 - Crimes and
Punishments, of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971
Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement) be and it is
hereby repealed and reenacted, with amendments, to read
as follows:

Article 27 — Crimes and Punishments

578.

(a)    "Off—road vehicle" means in this section any
motorized vehicle designed for or capable of
cross—country travel on or immediately over land, water,
snow, ice, marsh, swampland or other natural terrain and
includes, but is not limited to, four—wheel drive or
low—pressure—tire vehicles, motorcycles and related
two-wheel vehicles, amphibious machines, ground—effect or
air—cushion vehicles. The term does not include any
boat, snowmobile, military, fire or law enforcement
vehicle, farm—type tractors and other agricultural
equipment used for agricultural purposes or earth moving,
or construction equipment while used for those purposes,
lawn mowers, snowblowers, garden or lawn tractors or golf
carts while being used for their designed purpose.

(b)     No person may operate or use an off—road
vehicle on private property without permission of the
owner or tenant of the property, or to operate or use an
off—road vehicle on property owned by the State or any of
its political subdivisions except as permitted by law.
Any person convicted of this offense is guilty of a
misdemeanor and subject to a fine of no more than [$100]
$250.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1976.

Approved May 4, 1976.