Maryland Transportation Section 22-412.4

      (a)      (1)      In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

            (2)      "Vehicle" means an emergency vehicle purchased or leased by the State, a county, municipality, or volunteer fire department or rescue squad and operated by a:

                  (i)      State, county, or municipal fire department;

                  (ii)      Volunteer fire department; or

                  (iii)      Rescue squad.

            (3)      "Seat belt" means a restraining device described under § 22-412 of this subtitle.

      (b)      A vehicle registered in the State and manufactured and assembled after January 1, 1990 shall be equipped with a seat belt or safety restraining device approved by the local authority having jurisdiction for each position on the vehicle that may be lawfully occupied by a passenger.

      (c)      (1)      The failure of a person to use a seat belt or restraining device required under this section may not:

                  (i)      Be considered evidence of negligence;

                  (ii)      Be considered evidence of contributory negligence;

                  (iii)      Limit liability of a party or an insurer;

                  (iv)      Diminish recovery for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or operation of a motor vehicle; or

                  (v)      Be considered a moving violation for purposes of § 16-402 of this article.

            (2)      Subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) of this subsection, a party, witness, or counsel may not make reference to a seat belt during a trial of a civil action that involves property damage, personal injury, or death if the damage, injury, or death is not related to the design, manufacture, installation, supplying, or repair of a seat belt required under this section.

            (3)      (i)      Nothing contained in this subsection may be construed to prohibit the right of a person to institute a civil action for damages against a dealer, manufacturer, distributor, factory branch, or other appropriate entity arising out of an incident that involves a defectively installed or defectively operating seat belt.

                  (ii)      In a civil action in which 2 or more parties are named as joint tort-feasors, interpleaded as defendants, or impleaded as defendants, and 1 of the joint tort-feasors or defendants is not involved in the design, manufacture, installation, supplying, or repair of a seat belt, a court shall order separate trials to accomplish the ends of justice on a motion of any party.