From Code of Maryland Regulations:
COMAR 11.14.02.01 Applicability.
A. The standards, requirements and procedures set forth in this chapter are applicable to
equipment originally installed by the manufacturer or required by federal or State
requirements on passenger cars, taxicabs, light trucks 10,000 pounds and under GVWR, vans,
multipurpose passenger vehicles with a chassis capacity up to 10,000 pounds, and type II school
vehicles. Any questions regarding passenger cars, taxicabs, light trucks, vans, multipurpose
passenger vehicles with a chassis capacity up to 10,000 pounds, and type II school vehicle
standards or specifications shall be referred to the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division of
the Maryland State Police. Any person constructing or reconstructing these types of vehicles
shall assure the vehicle meets or exceeds all applicable federal or State safety standards.
B. Three-wheel multipurpose vehicles which have an enclosed occupant compartment shall
meet all established minimum standards for four-wheel multipurpose vehicles with the
exception of headlamps. If a three-wheel multipurpose vehicle which has an enclosed occupant
compartment is constructed with one wheel in the front and the design of the vehicle's body is
such that two headlamps are impractical, one headlamp meeting established minimum
standards for motorcycles will be acceptable if the vehicle is equipped with parking lamps, turn
signal lamps, and side marker lamps, as required, which adequately indicate the extreme width
of the vehicle front and rear.
C. Vehicles specially constructed as an exact replica of a previously manufactured vehicle, which
have been designated or otherwise would qualify as an historic vehicle or a vehicle of unique
interest as defined by the Motor Vehicle Administration for registration of these original
vehicles, shall meet all applicable established minimum standards for vehicles of the same
model year in which the vehicle is actually constructed and titled with the following exceptions:
(1) Regulation 10A(2)(c), side marker lamps: If the original counterpart of the specially
constructed vehicle was manufactured without side marker lamps, side marker lamps
are not required on the exact replica;
(2) Regulation .08A: If the original counterpart of the specially constructed vehicle was
manufactured without fenders or with fenders which do not meet current established
minimum standards, the specially constructed vehicle need only conform to the exact
design of its original counterpart to meet the requirements for fenders;
(3) Regulation .07A: If the original counterpart of the specially constructed vehicle was
manufactured without bumpers, with concealed bumpers, or with bumpers which do
not meet current established minimum standards, the specially constructed vehicle
need only conform to the exact design of its original counterpart to meet the
requirements for bumpers;
(4) Regulation .10A(1)(c)(iv), red high mounted stop lamp: If the original counterpart of
the specially constructed vehicle was manufactured without a red high mounted stop
lamp, a red high mounted stop lamp is not required on the exact replica; and
(5) The Division Commander may authorize in writing a waiver of additional inspection
requirements to be consistent with the original vehicle counterpart.
COMAR 11.14.02.22 Safety Belts.
A. Any motor vehicle manufactured or assembled after June 1, 1964, shall be equipped
with two sets of seat belts on the front seat of the vehicle and any vehicle manufactured
or assembled with a rear seat after June 1, 1969, shall be equipped with two sets of seat
belts on the rear seat of the vehicle. This does not apply to any motorcycle, bus, truck,
taxicab, or type II school vehicle.
From Maryland Statutes:
MD Code, Transportation, § 22-204
§ 22-204. Tail lamp requirements
Tail lamp requirement for motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, or other vehicles
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, after June 1, 1971, every motor vehicle, trailer,
semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle that is being drawn at the end of a
combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least 2 tail lamps mounted on the rear,
which, when lighted as required in § 22-201.1 of this subtitle, shall emit a red light plainly
visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear.
Tail lamp requirements for combination of vehicles
(b) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle that is being
drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, and that was manufactured or assembled
before June 1, 1971, shall have at least 1 tail lamp mounted on the rear which, when lighted as
required in § 22-201.1 of this subtitle, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of at
least 300 feet to the rear.
Tail lamps used with vehicle combinations
(c) On a combination of vehicles, only the tail lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be
seen from the distance specified in subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
Spacing of tail lamps
(d) On vehicles equipped with more than 1 tail lamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same
level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable.
Height requirements for tail lamps
(e) Every tail lamp on every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than 72 inches nor
less than 20 inches.
Location of tail lamp or separate lamp to illuminate rear registration plate
(f) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and placed to illuminate, with a
white light, the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to
the rear. Any tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for illuminating
the rear registration plate, shall be wired to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary
driving lamps are lighted.
…
MD Code, Transportation, § 22-402. Muffler and exhaust pipe requirements
Muffler system to prevent excessive or unusual noise
(a) Every motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine shall be equipped with an exhaust
muffler system in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or
unusual noise, and no person may use a muffler cutout, bypass, or similar device on a motor
vehicle on a highway. Noise levels in excess of those adopted by the Administrator under § 22-
601 of this title are excessive.
Use of devices to cause excessive or unusual noise prohibited
(b) A person may not use on the exhaust or “tail pipe” of a motor vehicle any extension or other
device to cause excessive or unusual noise.
Discharge of clearly visible smoke prohibited
(c)(1) No motor vehicle may be operated, nor may the owner or lessee of a motor vehicle
permit it to be operated, on any highway in this State unless the engine power and exhaust
mechanism is equipped, adjusted, and operated to prevent:
(i) The discharge of clearly visible smoke (comparable to smoke equal to or darker in shade than
that designated as No. 1 of the Ringelmann Chart as published by the U.S. Bureau of Mines) in
the exhaust emissions within the proximity of the exhaust outlet for more than 10 consecutive
seconds; and
(ii) The discharge of smoke from any other part of the engine in such amounts and of such
opacity as to partially obscure persons or objects from view.
(2) In this subsection, “smoke” means small gasborne and airborne particles, exclusive of water
vapor, from a process of combustion in sufficient numbers to be observable.
(3) A motor vehicle engine may not be allowed to operate for more than 5 consecutive minutes
when the vehicle is not in motion, except as follows:
(i) When a vehicle is forced to remain motionless because of traffic conditions or mechanical
difficulties over which the operator has no control;
(ii) When it is necessary to operate heating and cooling or auxiliary equipment installed on the
vehicle;
(iii) To bring the vehicle to the manufacturer's recommended operating temperature; or
(iv) When it is necessary to accomplish the intended use of the vehicle.
(4) For a period of 1 year from July 1, 1971, this subsection shall be enforced by issuance of a
warning. One year from July 1, 1971, it shall be enforced in the same manner as other violations
of this section.
(5) This subsection does not apply to Class L (historic) vehicles.
Muffler defined
(d) In this section, “muffler” means a device designed for and effective in reducing noise while
permitting the flow of gases.
Leakproof construction of mufflers and exhaust pipes
(e) All mufflers and exhaust pipes carrying exhaust gases from the motor shall be of leakproof
construction.
MD Code, Transportation, § 22-406. Safety glass requirements
Safety glass defined
(a) “Safety glass” means:
(1) Any glass product that is so made or treated as substantially to prevent the glass from
shattering and flying when struck or broken; or
(2) Any similar or other product that the Administration approves.
Driving vehicle without safety glass prohibited
(b) A person may not drive on any highway in this State any motor vehicle manufactured or
assembled after June 1, 1937, and registered in this State, unless the vehicle is equipped with
safety glass wherever glass is used in the motor vehicle in doors, windows, windshields, and
wings.
Selling vehicle without safety glass prohibited
(c) A person may not sell any motor vehicle manufactured or assembled after June 1, 1937,
registered or intended to be registered in this State and driven or intended to be driven on any
highway in this State, unless the vehicle is equipped with safety glass wherever glass is used in
the motor vehicle in doors, windows, windshields, and wings. Each sale in violation of this
provision is a separate offense.
…
MD Code, Transportation, § 22-412.3. Seat belt requirements
Definitions
(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)(i) “Motor vehicle” means a vehicle that is:
1. Registered or capable of being registered in this State as a Class A (passenger), Class E (truck),
Class F (tractor), Class M (multipurpose), or Class P (passenger bus) vehicle; and
2. Required to be equipped with seat belts under federal motor vehicle safety standards
contained in the Code of Federal Regulations.
(ii) “Motor vehicle” does not include a Class L (historic) vehicle.
…
MD Code, Transportation, § 22-224. Use of single-beam road-lighting equipment for certain
vehicles
Headlamp systems that provide only a single distribution of light shall be permitted on motor
vehicles manufactured and sold before June 1, 1944, instead of the specified multiple-beam
road-lighting equipment, if the single distribution of light complies with the following
requirements and limitations:
(1) The headlamps are so aimed that, when the vehicle is not loaded, none of the high-intensity
portion of the light at a distance of 25 feet ahead projects higher than a level of 5 inches below
the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes and, in no case, higher than 42 inches
above the level on which the vehicle stands at a distance of 75 feet ahead; and
(2) The intensity shall be sufficient to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 200
feet.