Title 23, Title 23: Motor Vehicles

§ 1042. Restricting the use of town highways (a) The legislative body of a municipality may, with the approval of the Secretary of Transportation, designate highways and bridges under its control, except for class 1 town highways, for use by specified types of motor vehicles base…

§ 1043. Operation of neighborhood electric vehicles (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the operator of a neighborhood electric vehicle may not operate the vehicle on a highway with a speed limit in excess of 35 miles per hour. (b) The Traffic Commi…

§ 1046. Vehicle approaching or entering intersection (a) When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle on the right. (b) The right-of-wa…

§ 1047. Vehicle turning left (a) The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction that is either within the intersection or …

§ 1048. Stop or yield intersections (a) Preferential right of way at an intersection may be indicated by “stop” signs or “yield” signs. (b) Except when directed to proceed by an enforcement officer or traffic-control signal, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop intersecti…

§ 1049. Vehicle entering from private road The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross a highway from an alley, building, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles and vulnerable users approaching on the highway. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.),…

§ 1050. Operation on approach of law enforcement and emergency vehicles or when approaching stationary law enforcement and emergency vehicles or work zone (a) Approach of law enforcement and emergency vehicles. Upon the approach of a law enforcement vehicle sounding a siren or di…

§ 1050a. Authorized highway maintenance vehicles (a) As used in this section, “authorized vehicle” means a vehicle authorized by the Agency of Transportation (in the case of State highways) or the municipality (in the case of town highways) to perform maintenance on a highway. (b…

§ 1051. Pedestrians’ right of way in crosswalks (a) If traffic-control signals are not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if necessary, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk. (b) No pedestrian may suddenl…

§ 1052. Crossing except at crosswalks (a) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway. (b) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead …

§ 1054. Pedestrians to use right half of crosswalks Pedestrians may move, whenever practicable, upon the right half of crosswalks only. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 1, 1973.)

§ 1055. Pedestrians on roadways (a) [Repealed.] (b) Any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing the direction of possible oncoming traffic. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. M…

§ 1056. Highway solicitations (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no person may stand within the roadway of a highway as defined in subdivision 4(32) of this title for the purpose of soliciting a ride, contributions, employment, or business from the occupant…

§ 1057. Duty toward persons who are blind (a) Whenever a pedestrian is crossing or attempting to cross a public street or highway, guided by a guide dog or carrying in a raised or extended position a cane or walking stick, white in color or white tipped with red, the driver of ev…

§ 1058. Duties of pedestrians All pedestrians shall obey the instructions of all traffic control devices that are applicable to them and all instructions of enforcement officers relating to control of traffic. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 1, 1973.)

§ 1059. Driving through safety zone No vehicle shall at any time be driven through or within a safety zone. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 1, 1973.)

§ 1061. Turning at intersections A driver intending to turn at an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall proceed as follows: (1) Right turn. Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or…

§ 1062. Turning prohibited No person shall turn a vehicle in order to proceed in the opposite direction on any curve, or upon the approach to or near the crest of a grade, where the vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of any other vehicle approaching from either direction for a …

§ 1063. Starting parked vehicles No person shall move a vehicle that is stopped, standing, or parked unless the movement can be made with reasonable safety. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 1, 1973.)

§ 1064. Signals required; general obligation to turn and move safely (a) Before changing direction or materially slackening speed, a driver shall give warning of his or her intention with the hand signals as provided in section 1065 of this title, or with a mechanical or lighting…

§ 1065. Hand signals (a) A right or left turn shall not be made without first giving a signal of intention either by hand or by signal in accordance with section 1064 of this title. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, all signals to indicate change of speed or d…

§ 1071. Railroad grade crossings (a) An operator approaching a railroad grade crossing shall stop within 50 feet of, but not nearer than 15 feet from, the nearest rail of the railroad and may not proceed until he or she can do so safely when: (1) an electric or mechanical signal …

§ 1072. Certain vehicles must stop (a)(1) Before crossing at grade any track or tracks of a railroad, the drivers of the following vehicles shall stop within 50 feet, but not less than 15 feet, from the nearest rail of the railroad and while so stopped shall look and listen in bo…

§ 1073. Heavy equipment (a) No individual shall operate or move any crawler-type tractor, steam shovel, derrick, roller, or any equipment or structure having a normal operating speed of 10 miles per hour or less upon or across any tracks at a railroad grade crossing except in acc…

§ 1074. Vehicle entering roadway A driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley, private road, legal trail, class 4 town highway, class 3 town highway serving only one residence, or driveway shall stop immediately prior to driving onto a sidewalk or onto the sidewalk area extending…

§ 1075. Passing school bus (a) The operator of a motor vehicle, including authorized emergency vehicles under section 1015 of this title, upon meeting or overtaking a vehicle marked and equipped as provided in section 1283 of this title that has stopped on the highway for the pur…

§ 1076. Commercial motor vehicles; railroad crossings (a) Persons operating a commercial vehicle who are not required to stop at railroad crossings shall slow to a speed sufficient to allow for a clear view of the tracks in both directions and stop before reaching the crossing if…

§ 1081. Basic rule and maximum limits (a) No individual shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions, having regard for the actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event, speed shall be controlled as necess…

§ 1082. Slow-moving vehicles All slow-moving vehicles shall keep at all times as close to the right-hand side of the highway as is reasonably practicable. A person operating a motor vehicle that impedes other traffic on a highway shall pull off the highway at the first opportunit…

§ 1083. Special speed limitations (a) No person may drive any vehicle equipped with iron, steel, or solid rubber tires at a speed greater than 10 miles per hour. (b) No person may drive a vehicle over any bridge or other elevated structure constituting a part of a highway at a sp…

§ 1091. Negligent operation; grossly negligent operation (a) Negligent operation. (1) A person who operates a motor vehicle on a public highway in a negligent manner shall be guilty of negligent operation. (2) The standard for a conviction for negligent operation in violation of …

§ 1092. Damaging surface of road No person may operate or move upon or over any highway or bridge a vehicle, machine, or contrivance that has any flange, ribs, clamps, or other object attached to or made a part of its wheels that will injure, cut into, or destroy the surface of t…

§ 1093. Smoke screen device No person may operate, or permit to be operated, a motor vehicle that is equipped with any special device or contrivance, subject to the control of the operator, designed to give off a smoke screen, so-called, or designed to impede or hinder any law en…

§ 1094. Operation without consent of owner; aggravated operation without consent of owner (a) A person commits the crime of operation without consent of the owner if: (1) the person takes, obtains, operates, uses, or continues to operate the motor vehicle of another when the pers…

§ 1095. Entertainment picture visible to the operator A person shall not operate upon a highway in this State a moving motor vehicle carrying or having installed a screen or other device transmitting a moving entertainment picture that is visible to the operator. (Added 1971, No.…

§ 1095a. Junior operator use of portable electronic devices (a) An individual under 18 years of age shall not use any portable electronic device as defined in subdivision 4(82) of this title while operating a moving motor vehicle in a place open temporarily or permanently to publ…

§ 1095b. Handheld use of portable electronic device prohibited (a) Definitions. As used in this section: (1) “Hands-free use” means the use of a portable electronic device without utilizing either hand by employing an internal feature of, or an attachment to, the device or a moto…

§ 1096. General penalties (a) Any person who violates the speed restrictions of subsection 1083(b) of this title shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $50.00 and is liable for damages for injuries thereby done to the bridge or structure, which may be recovered in a c…

§ 1097. Excessive speed No person shall operate a motor vehicle on a public highway at a speed of 60 miles per hour or more and at least 30 miles per hour in excess of a State speed zone or local speed limit. A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned upon a first con…

§ 1098. Disposition of pending cases (a) The Judicial Bureau shall enter judgment against the defendant in all cases in which: (1) prior to January 1, 2007, the defendant filed an answer admitting or not contesting the violation; (2) the defendant paid all or a portion of the fin…

§ 1099. Texting prohibited (a) As used in this section, “texting” means the reading or the manual composing or sending of electronic communications, including text messages, instant messages, or e-mails, using a portable electronic device as defined in subdivision 4(82) of this t…

§ 1101. Stopping, standing, or parking (a) No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, upon the paved or main-traveled part of the highway or within that portion of a highway right of way that the Traffic Committee finds to be a dang…

§ 1102. Removal of stopped vehicles (a) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, any enforcement officer is authorized to: (1) cause the removal of a vehicle stopped, parked, or standing contrary to section 1101 of this title or require the driver or other person in charge to m…

§ 1104. Stopping prohibited (a) Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of an enforcement officer or official traffic-control device, no person may: (1) Stop, stand, or park a vehicle: (A) on the roadway side of any …

§ 1105. Additional parking ordinances (a) Except as otherwise provided by local ordinance, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a two-way roadway shall be stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels parallel to and within 12 inches of the right-hand curb or if there is no curb, …

§ 1106. Limitations on use of State highway facilities (a) As used in this section, “State highway facility” means a State highway rest area, picnic ground, parking area, or park-and-ride facility. (b) No individual shall enter or remain on any State highway facility for the purp…