1212                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                      Ch. 288

than 20 days prior to the commencement of the regular sessions of
1988, 1989, and 1990. These reports shall evaluate the
effectiveness of this Act, and shall include, but not be limited
to, information and recommendations relating to the extent to
which the public has complied with this Act, statistics on
traffic accidents and resulting injuries and fatalities, and the
effect of this Act on insurance rates, including a listing of
those insurance companies whose rates reflect any savings
realized due to this Act.

SECTION 3 4. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this

Act shall take effect July 1, 1986.

Approved May 13, 1986.

CHAPTER 288

(House Bill 110)

AN ACT concerning

Vehicle Laws - Mandatory Seat Belt Usage

FOR the purpose of providing that, unless each occupant certain
occupants of an outboard front seat of certain motor
vehicles is are restrained by a seat belt, a person may not
operate the motor vehicle; defining certain terms; providing
that a person who is at least a certain age may not be a
passenger in an outboard front seat of a motor vehicle
unless the person is restrained by a seat belt; providing
certain exceptions to this Act; providing that a violation
of this Act is not evidence of contributory negligence but
may be admitted as evidence in a trial of a civil action for
a certain purpose; providing that a violation of this Act is
not considered a moving violation for the purpose of
assessment of points against a driver's license of an
Individual; establishing that failure of an individual to
use a seat belt in violation of this Act may not be
considered evidence of negligence or contributory
negligence, limit certain liability, or diminish recovery
for certain damages in a civil action for damages;
prohibiting certain persons from making reference to a seat
belt during certain trials; clarifying language; requiring a
court to order separate trials for joint tort-feasors or
defendants in a civil action under certain circumstances;
providing that a police officer may enforce the provisions
of this Act only under certain circumstances; providing that
the Motor Vehicle Administration and the Maryland State
Police shall establish certain prevention and education
programs; providing that the Administration shall include
certain information in the annual evaluation report on this