New Maryland Transportation Laws Effective Oct. 1

As of Oct. 1, legislation passed during the 2012 session of the Maryland General Assembly will go into effect. Here's a rundown of the new transportation laws: 

• Nonfunctioning Traffic Control Signals; Requirement to Stop (HB 67): Drivers must stop at any intersection where there is a nonfunctioning traffic light. Additionally, drivers must yield to any pedestrians or vehicles within the intersection.

• Moped and Motor Scooters; Titling, Insurance, and Required Use of Protective Headgear (HB 149): This law adds mopeds and motor scooters to the current laws pertaining to motor vehicles and motorcycles. The law also requires operators of mopeds or motor scooters to wear a helmet.

• Provisional Driver's Licenses - Driver Education Requirements (HB 292): This law reduces the time that an individual over 25 must wait before taking a provisional driver's license exam. It also decreases supervised driving time for those over 25 before getting a license.

• Motor Vehicles - Child Safety Seats - Requirements (HB 313): This law repeals the exception for a child under the age of 8 and weighing over 65 pounds from having to sit in a child seat. However, the exception for a child under the age of 8 and over 4' 9" is still in place.

• Life-Threatening Injury by Motor Vehicle or Vessel while Impaired by a Controlled Dangerous Substance - Penalty (Ava's Law) (HB 1334): This law increases the maximum imprisonment from 2 to 3 years and the maximum fine from $3,000 to $5,000 for causing life-threatening injury as a result of negligent driving, operating, or controlling a motor vehicle or vessel while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance.

• Identification Cards and Drivers' Licenses - Period of Validity (SB 111): This law increases driver license cards' validity from 5 years to 8 years.