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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
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amendment.
*hb1567*
HOUSE BILL 1567
R5 6lr2997
By: Delegate Odom Delegates Odom and Boyce
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 6, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Laws – Bicycles, Motor Scooters, and EPAMDs – Overtaking and Passing 2
Audible Warnings 3
(Pass Pedestrians Safely Act) 4
FOR the purpose of authorizing a person to operate an electric personal assistive mobility 5
device (EPAMD) that is equipped with certain audible devices; requiring an operator 6
of a bicycle, a motor scooter, or an EPAMD to exercise due care to avoid a collision 7
with another vehicle or a pedestrian and maintain a certain distance, if practicable, 8
when passing a vehicle or pedestrian; requiring an operator of a bicycle, a motor 9
scooter, or an EPAMD to give a certain audible warning before passing a pedestrian; 10
establishing that a violation of the distance or audible warning requirements 11
requirement is a secondary offense subject to a certain civil penalty; and generally 12
relating to overtaking and passing audible warning requirements for operators of 13
bicycles, motor scooters, and EPAMDs. 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Transportation 16
Section 21–1207 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
BY adding to 20
Article – Transportation 21
Section 21–1209.1 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
2 HOUSE BILL 1567
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 1
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 2
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 3
Article – Transportation 4
21–1207. 5
(a) (1) If a bicycle or a motor scooter is used on a highway at any time when, 6
due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the 7
highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 1,000 feet, the bicycle or moto r scooter 8
shall be equipped: 9
(i) On the front, with a lamp that emits a white light visible from a 10
distance of at least 500 feet to the front; and 11
(ii) On the rear, with a red reflector of a type approved by the 12
Administration and visible from all distances from 600 feet to 100 feet to the rear when 13
directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. 14
(2) A bicycle or bicyclist may be equipped with a functioning lamp that acts 15
as a reflector and emits a red light or a flashin g amber light visible from a distance of 500 16
feet to the rear instead of or in addition to the red reflector required by paragraph (1) of 17
this subsection. 18
(b) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, a person may operate a bicycle [or], a 19
motor scooter, OR AN EPAMD that is equipped with a bell, HORN, or other device capable 20
of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least 100 feet. 21
(c) A bicycle [or], A motor scooter, OR AN EPAMD may not be equipped with nor 22
may any person use on a bicycle , A MOT OR SCOOTER , OR AN EPAMD any siren or 23
whistle. 24
(d) Every bicycle and motor scooter shall be equipped with a braking system 25
capable of stopping from a speed of 10 miles per hour within 15 feet on dry, level, clean 26
pavement. 27
21–1209.1. 28
(A) A PERSON OPERATING A BICYCLE, A MOTOR SCOOTER, OR AN EPAMD 29
SHALL: 30
(1) EXERCISE DUE CARE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH A VEHICLE OR 31
PEDESTRIAN; AND 32
HOUSE BILL 1567 3
(2) WHEN OVERTAKING AND PASSING A VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN, IF 1
PRACTICABLE, PASS SAFELY AT A DISTANCE OF NOT LESS THAN 3 FEET. 2
(B) AN OPERATOR OF A BICY CLE, A MOTOR SCOOTER , OR AN EPAMD 3
SHALL GIVE AN AUDIBL E WARNING BY VOICE O R BELL, HORN, OR OTHER DEVICE 4
BEFORE OVERTAKING AND PASSING A PEDESTRIAN. 5
(C) (B) (1) A POLICE OFFICER MAY ENFORCE THIS SECTION ONLY AS A 6
SECONDARY ACTION WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER DETAINS A PERSON OPERATING A 7
BICYCLE, A MOTOR SCOOTER , OR AN EPAMD FOR A SUSPECTED VIOL ATION OF 8
ANOTHER PROVISION OF THE CODE. 9
(2) A PERSON WHO IS FOUND LIABLE FOR A VIOLATION OF T HIS 10
SECTION IS SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY OF $25. 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 12
October 1, 2026. 13
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.