H.B. 376

VETOES

Preamble

WHEREAS, The Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and its Medical Advisory
Board (MAB), after a comprehensive review of Maryland's current vision standards for
drivers' licenses, have determined that changes are necessary to modernize current
standards and eliminate inconsistencies in current law; and

WHEREAS, The MVA and its MAB have concluded that there is a significant
population with vision problems that could drive safely under specified restrictions, but
that population is ill-served by Maryland's current standards; and

WHEREAS, The State has a responsibility to assist this growing population in
maintaining the independence that the automobile allows in a manner that does not
jeopardize their safety or the safety of others on the highways; and

WHEREAS, The MVA has appointed a Workgroup for Modified Vision
Standards consisting of medical professionals, MVA staff, and citizens with an interest in
driver vision standards to study this issue, and the Workgroup has issued
recommendations for revised standards which are set forth in this Act to better meet this
population's needs; and

WHEREAS, The success of the standards set forth in this Act, depends, in part,
on continued study by the MVA of drivers' experience over a reasonable period of time;
and

WHEREAS, This Act, a joint work product of the MVA, the MAB, and the
Workgroup for Modified Vision Standards, is intended to accomplish these goals; now,
therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows;

Article - Transportation

16-110.1.

(a)     For an unrestricted license, each applicant is required to have:
(1) SIMULTANEOUSLY:

(I) A minimum visual acuity of 20/40 in each eye; AND
[(2)] (II) A CONTINUOUS field of vision of at least 140 degrees; and
[(3)] (2) Binocular vision.

(b)     If the applicant's vision can be corrected by glasses or contact lenses to meet
the standards of this section, the Administration may issue the applicant a restricted
license, endorsed ["holder shall wear eye glasses or contact lenses when driving"]
"CORRECTIVE LENSES".

[(c) If the applicant has less than 20/40 vision in each eye but has at least 20/70 in
one eye and at least 20/140 in the other, the Administration may issue the applicant a
restricted license, endorsed "daylight driving only".

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