HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                      1211

DAMAGE, INJURY, OR DEATH IS NOT RELATED TO THE DESIGN,
MANUFACTURE, INSTALLATION, SUPPLYING, OR REPAIR OF A SEAT BELT.

(3) (1) NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS SUBSECTION MAY BE
CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT THE RIGHT OF A PERSON TO INSTITUTE A CIVIL
ACTION FOR DAMAGES AGAINST A DEALER, MANUFACTURER, DISTRIBUTOR,
FACTORS BRANCH, OR OTHER APPROPRIATE ENTITY ARISING OUT OF AN
INCIDENT THAT INVOLVES A DEFECTIVELY INSTALLED OR DEFECTIVELY
OPERATING SEAT BELT.

(II) IN A CIVIL ACTION IN WHICH 2 OR MORE
PARTIES ARE NAMED AS JOINT TORT-FEASORS. INTERPLEADED AS
DEFENDANTS, OR IMPLEADED AS DEFENDANTS, AND 1 OF THE JOINT
TORT-FEASORS OR DEFENDANTS IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN,
MANUFACTURE, INSTALLATION, SUPPLYING, OR REPAIR OF A SEAT BELT, A
COURT SHALL ORDER SEPARATE TRIALS TO ACCOMPLISH THE ENDS OF
JUSTICE ON A MOTION OF ANY PARTY.

(I)(H) THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE
SHALL ESTABLISH PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE
COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.

(J)(I) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL INCLUDE INFORMATION ON THIS
STATE'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION IN THE
ANNUAL EVALUATION REPORT ON THE STATE'S HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN THAT
THIS STATE SUBMITS TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION AND THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION UNDER 23
U.S.C. § 402.

(K)(J) A POLICE OFFICER MAY ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION ONLY AS A SECONDARY ACTION WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER
DETAINS A DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE FOR A SUSPECTED VIOLATION OF
ANOTHER PROVISION OF THE CODE.

27-106.

(A)  Any person who is convicted of a violation of §
22-404.4 of this article shall be fined $250.

(B)  ANY PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF §
22-412.3 OF THIS ARTICLE IS SUBJECT TO A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN
$20 $25, INCLUDING COURT COSTS.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the policy
of this State that enactment of this mandatory automobile safety
belt usage law is intended to be compatible with support for
federal safety standards requiring automatic crash protection,
and should not be used in any manner to rescind federal
requirements of installation of automatic restraints in new cars.

SECTION 3.2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the
Secretary of Transportation and the Insurance Commissioner
jointly shall submit a report to the General Assembly no later