WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

Ch. 444

(i) The issuance of appropriate annual blanket permits to those
vehicles which are of adequate size to safely perform any towing allowed under this
section;

(ii) The maximum weight, gross weight, axle weight, axle loads, or size
of vehicles and vehicle combinations that may be towed under this section;

(iii) The minimum size and equipment required of a tow truck that
tows vehicles or vehicle combinations under this section; and

(iv) An annual permit fee, not to exceed the lesser of $50 or the actual
cost of issuing permits under this subsection.

(4)      The State Highway Administration shall issue an appropriate annual
blanket permit to an eligible tow truck registered under this section OR UNDER THE
LAWS OF ANOTHER STATE that meets the requirements of regulations adopted under
this subsection.

(5) (I) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (6) OF THIS SUBSECTION, A TOW TRUCK
REGISTERED IN ANOTHER STATE MAY OBTAIN A BLANKET PERMIT UNDER THIS
SUBSECTION.

(II) THE FEE FOR A BLANKET PERMIT ISSUED TO AN OUT-OF-STATE
TOW TRUCK UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH IS $100.

(6) (I) THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (5) OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL
BE SUPERSEDED AND SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE ISSUANCE OF ANY BLANKET PERMIT TO
AN OUT-OF-STATE TOW TRUCK IF THERE EXISTS A WRITTEN RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN MARYLAND AND THE STATE IN WHICH THE OUT-OF-STATE TOW TRUCK IS
REGISTERED THAT PROVIDES FOR:

1. THE ISSUANCE BY THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
OF BLANKET PERMITS FOR OUT-OF-STATE TOW TRUCKS UNDER THE SAME
CIRCUMSTANCES DELINEATED UNDER PARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS SUBSECTION; AND

2. THE ISSUANCE BY THE STATE IN WHICH THE OUT-OF-STATE
TOW TRUCK IS REGISTERED OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT BLANKET PERMITS TO
TOW TRUCKS REGISTERED IN MARYLAND FOR OPERATION IN THAT STATE.

(7) THE OPERATOR OF A TOW TRUCK REGISTERED UNDER THE LAWS
OF ANOTHER STATE AND OPERATED UNDER A BLANKET PERMIT ISSUED UNDER
THIS SECTION SUBSECTION MAY NOT TOW A VEHICLE IN THIS STATE UNLESS THE
OUT-OF-STATE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR IS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE
HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO TOW THE VEHICLE.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, while engaged in towing,
a tow truck registered under this section is subject to:

(1)      Weight restrictions imposed on restricted bridges; and

(2)      All applicable statutory weight and size restrictions under Title 24 of this
article while being operated within the limits of Baltimore City, unless the vehicle is being
operated on an interstate highway.

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