The whole Maryland file

MARYLAND FIELD FILE

Every section, top to bottom.

About this guide — education built from the Annotated Code of Maryland as the General Assembly publishes it, not a law degree in a webpage. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney or a legal aid office. Current as of October 2026.

Not in the passenger area. A Maryland driver may not consume an alcoholic beverage, or smoke or consume cannabis, in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a highway. It applies whether the vehicle is driven, stopped, standing or parked there, and it applies throughout the State whatever a local law says.

Md. Code, Transp. § 21-903

The passenger area is where the driver and passengers sit while the vehicle is moving, and anywhere they can readily reach from their seats. It does not include a locked glove compartment, the trunk, or, in a vehicle without a trunk, the area behind the last upright seat or an area not normally occupied.

Md. Code, Transp. § 21-903

As this section is written, the prohibition is on the driver consuming. An alcoholic beverage here is anything fit to drink that contains at least 0.5% alcohol by volume.

Md. Code, Transp. § 21-903

Sources for this section (1)

Md. Code, Transp. § 21-903 — Consuming alcohol or cannabis in a vehicle

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.

MARYLAND FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Being stopped

Marijuana and drugs

Impaired driving

Court and money

Recording

Carrying a firearm

Charges and penalties

How you carry yourself

Walk it through

MARYLAND FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Drinking Or Smoking Cannabis In The CarTransp. § 21-903 — a driver may not drink, or smoke or consume cannabis, in the passenger area▾

Your Phone Behind The WheelTransp. § 21-1124.1 and § 21-1124.2 — no texting, and hands only to start or end a call▾

Speed LimitsTransp. § 21-801.1 — 30 in a business district, 55 on a divided highway, 70 at most anywhere▾

Reckless And Negligent DrivingTransp. § 21-901.1 — reckless includes 30 mph over the limit; up to 60 days or $1,000▾

Seat BeltsTransp. § 22-412.3 — every seat, a $50 fine, and the back seat enforced only alongside another stop▾

Driving While SuspendedTransp. § 16-303 — up to 1 year or $1,000 for a first offense▾

After A CrashTransp. § 20-102 and § 20-104 — stop, stay, help and exchange information▾

Being stopped

Being Arrested Without A WarrantCrim. Proc. § 2-202 — in the officer's presence, or probable cause of a felony▾

False Statements To PoliceCrim. Law § 9-501 — a knowingly false report meant to start an investigation; up to 6 months or $500▾

Resisting Arrest And FleeingCrim. Law § 9-408 and Transp. § 21-904 — up to 3 years for resisting a lawful arrest▾

When Police Use ForcePub. Safety § 3-524 — the Maryland Use of Force Statute: necessary and proportional, or not at all▾

Reading A Search WarrantCrim. Proc. § 1-203 — 10 days to execute it, 20 seconds at the door, and a copy left behind▾

Marijuana and drugs

Cannabis And DrugsCrim. Law § 5-601 — legal for adults 21 and over up to the personal use amount, 1.5 ounces▾

Impaired driving

The DUI StopTransp. § 21-902 and § 16-205.1 — 0.08, a test nobody can be compelled to take, and 270 days for refusing it▾

Under 21 And DrivingTransp. § 16-113 — no alcohol in the blood at all until 21, and a midnight curfew until 18▾

Court and money

Getting The Deposit BackReal Prop. § 8-203 — back within 45 days with interest, or up to three times the amount withheld▾

Lease Terms That Do Not CountReal Prop. § 8-208 — clauses a Maryland lease may not contain, and a late fee capped at 5%▾

Being Evicted For RentReal Prop. § 8-401 — 10 days' notice first, a trial on the fifth day, and the right to pay and stay▾

Notice To End A TenancyReal Prop. § 8-402 — 60 days for a month to month or a lease, 90 for year to year▾

Retaliation By A LandlordReal Prop. § 8-208.1 — up to 3 months' rent when a landlord retaliates for a complaint▾

When The Landlord Will Not Fix ItReal Prop. § 8-211 — rent escrow for dangerous defects, and a presumption that 30 days is too long▾

Locked Out By The LandlordReal Prop. § 8-216 — possession only by a court's warrant, executed by a sheriff or constable▾

Leaving A Lease Because Of AbuseReal Prop. § 8-5A-02 — written notice, 30 days to leave, and rent only until then▾

Getting Paid When A Job EndsLab. & Empl. § 3-505 and § 3-507.2 — the next regular payday, and up to 3 times the wage withheld▾

Minimum WageLab. & Empl. § 3-413 — $15.00 an hour, and 85% of it for workers under 18▾

Earned Sick And Safe LeaveLab. & Empl. § 3-1304 — 1 hour for every 30 worked, paid at 15 or more employees▾

Unemployment After Quitting Or Being FiredLab. & Empl. § 8-1001 and § 8-1002 — good cause, valid circumstances, and gross misconduct▾

Getting Public RecordsGen. Prov. § 4-203 — granted or denied within 30 days, with a written reason for a denial▾

Small Claims CourtCts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405 — the District Court, for claims up to $5,000▾

What A Creditor Cannot TakeCts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504 and Com. Law § 15-601.1 — $500 in the bank, $6,000 by election, 75% of wages▾

Old Debts And Time LimitsCts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101, § 5-102 and § 5-1202 — three years, twelve for specialties, and no revival▾

Debt CollectorsCom. Law § 14-202 — what a collector may not do in collecting a debt▾

Unfair And Deceptive PracticesCom. Law § 13-303 — where the Consumer Protection Act forbids unfair, abusive or deceptive practices▾

Door To Door SalesCom. Law § 14-302 — until midnight of the third business day to cancel▾

The Lemon LawCom. Law § 14-1502 — 18,000 miles or 24 months, four repairs or 30 days out of service▾

Getting DivorcedFam. Law § 7-103 — 6 months apart, irreconcilable differences, or mutual consent▾

Alimony And Marital PropertyFam. Law § 8-205 and § 11-106 — what the court weighs in dividing property and setting alimony▾

Protective OrdersFam. Law § 4-506 — a final hearing within 7 days, an order of up to 1 year, and firearms surrendered▾

Discrimination At WorkState Gov't § 20-606 — the protected traits, accommodation, harassment and retaliation▾

Housing DiscriminationState Gov't § 20-705 — including source of income, so a housing voucher cannot be the reason▾

Dog BitesCts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-1901 — the owner is presumed to have known the dog was dangerous▾

Jury Duty And A JobCts. & Jud. Proc. § 8-501 — no firing for jury service, and no late shift after 4 hours of it▾

Recording

Recording A ConversationCts. & Jud. Proc. § 10-402 — every party consents to recording a private conversation, or it is a felony▾

Carrying a firearm

Carrying A HandgunCrim. Law § 4-203 and Pub. Safety § 5-306 — a permit, 16 hours of training, and a minimum of 30 days without one▾

Charges and penalties

AssaultCrim. Law § 3-202 and § 3-203 — second degree up to 10 years, first degree up to 25▾

The Theft LadderCrim. Law § 7-104 — under $100 up to 90 days; $1,500 is where theft becomes a felony▾

Clearing A RecordCrim. Proc. § 10-105 and § 10-110 — expungement of charges that did not end in conviction, and of listed convictions after waiting▾

Release Before TrialCrim. Proc. § 5-101 — personal recognizance where the court believes the defendant will appear▾

How you carry yourself

Disorderly ConductCrim. Law § 10-201 — up to 60 days or $500, including failing a lawful order to keep the peace▾

Harassment And StalkingCrim. Law § 3-803 and § 3-802 — harassment after a warning to stop; stalking up to 5 years▾

TrespassCrim. Law § 6-402 and § 6-403 — posted land, or told not to enter or to leave▾

Damaging PropertyCrim. Law § 6-301 — $1,000 divides up to 60 days from up to 3 years▾

Under 21 With AlcoholCrim. Law § 10-114 — possessing or drinking under 21, and the family exception▾

Walk it through