Maryland Transportation Section 21-507

      (a)      Except for the occupant of a disabled vehicle who seeks the aid of another vehicle, a person may not stand in a roadway to solicit a ride, employment, or business from the occupant of any vehicle.

      (b)      A person may not stand on or near a highway to solicit any other person to watch or guard any vehicle while it is parked or about to be parked on a highway.

      (c)      In Carroll County, Charles County, Frederick County, Harford County, and Washington County, a person may not stand in a roadway, median divider, or intersection to solicit money or donations of any kind from the occupant of a vehicle.

      (d)      (1)      In Prince George's County:

                  (i)      A child under the age of 15 years may not stand in a roadway, median divider, or intersection to solicit money or donations of any kind from the occupant of a vehicle; and

                  (ii)      An adult may not cause, encourage, allow, or petition a child under the age of 15 years to stand in a roadway, median divider, or intersection to solicit money or donations of any kind from the occupant of a vehicle.

            (2)      A child under the age of 15 years may not be found guilty or adjudicated delinquent for a violation of paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection if an adult caused, encouraged, allowed, or petitioned the child in violation of paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection.

      (e)      (1)      This subsection applies to Anne Arundel County.

            (2)      In this subsection, "qualified organization" means a fire company or a bona fide religious, fraternal, civic, war veterans', or charitable organization.

            (3)      The Anne Arundel County Council may, by ordinance, enact a licensing program for individuals who are 18 years old or older and qualified organizations that wish to solicit money or donations from the occupant of a vehicle by standing in a roadway, median divider, or intersection.

            (4)      The restriction on the age of individuals who may be licensed under the authority granted to the Anne Arundel County Council under paragraph (3) of this subsection applies to individuals who participate in the solicitation of donations as members or on behalf of the qualified organization.

            (5)      If the county council enacts an ordinance establishing a licensing program authorized by paragraph (3) of this subsection, the ordinance:

                  (i)      May impose on an applicant that is an individual or a qualified organization a fee for the license, subject to item (ii) of this paragraph, in an amount not to exceed the county's cost to administer the program;

                  (ii)      May not impose a fee exceeding $100 per year for each applicant for a license or a renewal of a license;

                  (iii)      Shall include provisions for the duration and renewal of the license;

                  (iv)      May require that an applicant or licensee provide notice to the county as to the dates on which the solicitation will occur; and

                  (v)      May provide for:

                        1.      An exemption from the fee for an individual who is unable to pay the fee; and

                        2.      Procedures for an individual to comply with in order to demonstrate the individual's inability to pay the fee.

            (6)      An ordinance that imposes a fee under paragraph (5) of this subsection on an applicant that is a qualified organization organized on a national or statewide basis and having more than one county or local chapter in the State shall impose one fee to be paid by the national or statewide organization to cover all of the county or local chapters in the State.

            (7)      (i)      If the county council enacts an ordinance establishing a licensing program authorized by paragraph (3) of this subsection, an individual or organization that decides not to seek to become licensed under the program may not stand in a roadway, median divider, or intersection in Anne Arundel County to solicit money or donations of any kind from the occupant of a vehicle.

                  (ii)      If the county council does not choose to enact an ordinance to establish a licensing program as authorized by paragraph (3) of this subsection, the provisions of this subsection may not be construed to prohibit an individual or qualified organization from standing in a roadway, median divider, or intersection in the county to solicit money or donations from the occupant of a vehicle.

            (8)      If the county council enacts an ordinance establishing a licensing program authorized by paragraph (3) of this subsection, then on or before December 1 of the calendar year that occurs after the anniversary of the first 12 months of the implementation of the licensing program, the Anne Arundel County Police Department shall report in writing to the Anne Arundel County Delegation to the General Assembly on the effectiveness of the county police department's enforcement of the provisions of this subsection with respect to individuals and organizations to solicit money or donations on roadways, median dividers, or intersections in the county from the occupants of vehicles.

      (f)      (1)      This subsection applies only to Cecil County.

            (2)      In this subsection, "qualified organization" means a fire company or bona fide religious, fraternal, civic, war veterans', or charitable organization.

            (3)      Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, in Cecil County a person may not:

                  (i)      Stand in a roadway, median divider, or intersection to solicit money or donations of any kind from the occupant of a vehicle; or

                  (ii)      Cause, encourage, allow, or petition another to stand in a roadway, median divider, or intersection to solicit money or donations of any kind from the occupant of a vehicle.

            (4)      (i)      The County Commissioners of Cecil County or the governing body of a municipal corporation in Cecil County may, by appropriate resolution or ordinance, enact a permit program to allow individuals who are at least 18 years old and representatives of qualified organizations who are at least 18 years old to solicit money or donations from the occupant of a vehicle by standing in a roadway, median divider, or intersection.

                  (ii)      If the County Commissioners or the governing body of a municipal corporation in the County enact a resolution or ordinance establishing a permit program authorized by this paragraph, the resolution or ordinance shall:

                        1.      Require an applicant for a permit to submit proof that the individual or qualified organization has a plan for safely soliciting money or donations from the proposed location;

                        2.      Provide that a permit is effective for a period of 1 calendar day; and

                        3.      Allow an individual or a qualified organization to obtain only one permit per calendar year.