Code of The City of Laurel, Maryland

Sec. 17-96. Definitions.

For purposes of this chapter, the terms used herein are defined as follows:

Bicycle shall mean a vehicle that

1. Is designed to be operated by human power;

2. Has two (2), three (3) or four (4) wheels, of which one is more than fourteen (14) inches in diameter;

3. Has a rear drive; and

4. Has a wheel configuration as follows:

   1. If the vehicle has two (2) wheels, with both wheels in tandem; or

   2. If the vehicle has three (3) wheels, with one front wheel and with the two rear wheels that are spaced equidistant from the center of the vehicle.

   3. If the vehicle has four (4) wheels, two are in the front and two are in the back that are spaced equidistant from the center of the vehicle.

5. Bicycle is any vehicle that is defined as a bicycle pursuant to the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.

Bike lane shall mean any portion of a roadway or shoulder designated for single directional bicycle flow.

Moped shall mean a bicycle that:

1. Is designed to be operated by human power with the assistance of a motor;

2. Is equipped with pedals that mechanically drive the rear wheel or wheels;

3. Has two (2), three (3) or four (4) wheels, of which one is more than fourteen (14) inches in diameter; and

4. Has a motor with a rating of 1.5 brake horsepower or less and, if the motor is an internal combustion engine, a capacity of 50 cubic centimeters piston displacement or less.

5. Moped may also include anything defined as a moped by the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Motor vehicle shall mean minibikes, motorbikes, motor scooters, go-carts and other mechanically propelled vehicles of a similar nature or anything defined as a motor vehicle or motor scooter by the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.

Play vehicles shall mean skateboards, roller skates, soap box vehicles and other similar devices. “Play vehicles” shall not include tricycles and/or other three-or-more-wheeled toys commonly used by small children under the supervision of any adult parent or other responsible person unless specified herein.

1. Play vehicles shall include scooters as defined as a vehicle which has handlebars, and is designed to be stood on by the operator or any other definition of scooter as set forth in the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.

2. Play vehicles shall include scooters which are motorized, non-motorized, battery operated, self-propelled or any combination thereof.

(Ord. No. 1409, 7-28-03)

Sec. 17-97. Proper riding control; compliance with traffic regulations required.

The rider or operator of a bicycle or play vehicle as defined herein on any of the streets of the City of Laurel shall have said vehicle under proper control and shall not operate or propel the bicycle or play vehicle on any of the streets of the City recklessly or at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and proper and shall not use the street or highways so as to endanger the property of any person. All operators of bicycles or play vehicles shall at all times comply with all other traffic regulations in force in the City of Laurel and pursuant to the traffic regulations for the State of Maryland.

(Ord. No. 1409, 7-28-03)

Sec. 17-98. Riding in parking lots and sidewalks prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any person to ride any bicycle, moped, motor vehicle or play vehicle as defined in this chapter on, over or under any public parking lots and public sidewalks in the area described in the Charter of the City of Laurel at Article 200.

(Ord. No. 1409, 7-28-03)

Sec. 17-99. Riding in parks and playgrounds restricted.

It shall be unlawful for any person, operator or group of persons to ride or operate a bicycle, motor vehicle, moped or play vehicle, as defined in this chapter, in any park or playground owned, operated and/or maintained by the City of Laurel, except in those areas designated as “riding areas” or except in such areas as are public ways or public highways or roads and commonly used in said park or playground areas.

(Ord. No. 1409, 7-28-03)

Sec. 17-100. Violations and penalties.

• Any person violating any provision of this chapter, on conviction thereof before the court having jurisdiction, shall pay a fine as follows:

  1. If the offense for which the person has been convicted is a violation of the Motor Vehicle Laws as set out in the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as it may be from time to time amended, a fine as established by the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as it may be from time to time amended, shall be paid.

  2. If the person violating this chapter is convicted of a violation that is not a violation of the transportation article as aforementioned, a fine upon conviction of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for a first violation; fifty dollars ($50.00) for a second violation, one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a third violation and an additional one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each subsequent violation, not to exceed two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00), shall be paid.

• In addition to any penalties contained herein, any law enforcement officer may enforce the provisions of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Laws as set out in the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended, regarding additional powers and penalties.

• In addition to the fines and penalties herein described, the mayor and city council may avail themselves of any and all civil and equitable remedies for the purposes of stopping continuing offenses of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1409, 7-28-03)

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