LEONARDTOWN, Md. (November 8, 2007)—Police in St. Mary's County are planning a "proactive traffic enforcement initiative" beginning Saturday, November 17, against unregistered vehicles being operated on St. Mary's County Highways. The targeted vehicles include all terrain vehicles (ATVs), golf carts, and mopeds. Police say the initiative was prompted by numerous citizens complaints.
The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office says the goal of this initiative is to save lives and increase the safety of the driving public in St. Mary's County through awareness and enforcement.
Maryland Law states a person shall not operate an unregistered vehicle on the highway. The definition of a highway includes the shoulders. ATV's are specifically designed for off road use and are to be operated only on private property, with the permission of the property owner, say police.
Maryland law also requires vehicles operating at a speed of 25 MPH or less to display a slow moving vehicle emblem. However, police note that having this emblem displayed on the rear of an ATV or golf cart does not allow a person to operate the vehicle on a highway in Maryland, unless the vehicle is being used to facilitate farm related operations, construction, maintenance or repair work at a facility. The emblem is a reflective orange triangle with a narrow red border. They are typically seen on the rear of farm and maintenance tractors that move along the roadways.