Section 17-107 - Prohibitions. - Maryland Statutes

§ 17-107. Prohibitions.
 

(a)  Vehicle not covered by required security.- A person who knows or has reason to know that a motor vehicle is not covered by the required security may not: 

(1) Drive the vehicle; or 

(2) If he is an owner of the vehicle, knowingly permit another person to drive it. 

(b)  Evidence of violation of subsection (a).-  

(1) In any prosecution under subsection (a) of this section the introduction of the official records of the Motor Vehicle Administration showing the absence of a record that the vehicle is covered by the security required under § 17-104 of this subtitle shall be prima facie evidence that a person knows or has reason to know that a motor vehicle is not covered by the required security. 

(2) The introduction of evidence of the records of the Administration may not limit the introduction of other evidence bearing upon whether the vehicle was covered by the required security. 

(c)  Defense of sovereign immunity.- An owner or lessee of any motor vehicle registered under Title 13 of this article may not raise the defense of sovereign or governmental immunity as described under § 5-524 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 661/2, § 7-103; 1977, ch. 14, § 2; 1981, ch. 250; 1988, ch. 787; 1990, ch. 546, § 3; 1997, ch. 14, § 20.]