1. A. Permit Requirements.

   1. (1) A person may not operate or bring a motor vehicle on MPA property unless the motor vehicle has been issued a Decal or a Visitor, Vendor, 14-Day, Cargo Gate Pass or E-Pass in accordance with this chapter.
   2. (2) Failure to display the decal or pass properly may result in the denial of access to MPA property.
   3. (3) Access to MPA property is subject to limitations and time frames specified by the MPA.
   4. (4) A motor vehicle specifically exempted by these regulations is not subject to permit requirements.

2. B. Types of Permits.

   1. (1) Decal. Motor vehicles regularly operated on MPA property or requiring regular visits to the property, shall display evidence of having obtained a Decal. The decal shall be applied to the outside lower portion of the driver side of the vehicle’s front windshield with the expiration date clearly displayed.
   2. (2) 14-Day Pass. Non-decaled motor vehicles operated by authorized persons on MPA property on a daily basis for 7 days or longer, shall display evidence of having obtained a 14-Day Pass. Issuance of a 14-Day Pass requires prior notification of the MPA Office of Security or designee. The pass shall be placed on the dashboard in the driver’s front left windshield area of the vehicle so as to be visible from the outside.
   3. (3) Visitor or Vendor Vehicle Pass. Motor vehicles, owned or operated by persons on MPA property on a daily basis for a length of time less than 7 days, shall display evidence of having obtained a printed Visitor or Vendor Pass, or shall display an E-Pass on their mobile device. Issuance of a Visitor or Vendor Pass or E-Pass requires prior notification to the MPA via its electronic database. The printed pass shall be placed on the dashboard in the driver’s front left windshield area of the vehicle so as to be visible from the outside. The E-Pass shall be displayed via the user’s mobile device when requested by security personnel or MdTA Police.
   4. (4) Cargo Gate Pass. A Motor vehicle which is designed to carry cargo or is designated as cargo is required to obtain a Cargo Gate Pass at one of the truck access control points before reporting directly to the marine terminal operator or cargo processor within MPA property that is handling the cargo. The vehicle operator shall be registered via MPA’s electronic database, eModal, before entering the facility.

   5. (5) Exemptions. Special mobile equipment and emergency vehicles, as defined in Transportation Article, §11-118, Annotated Code of Maryland are exempt from the permit requirements of this chapter when they are being used:

      1. (a) In the performance of official duties; or
      2. (b) For conducting business on any MPA facility.

3. C. Application Procedures.

   1. (1) Requirements for a Decal. A person desiring a decal under this regulation shall:

      1. (a) Establish to the satisfaction of the MPA Office of Security a legitimate purpose for being on a facility;
      2. (b) Submit a completed permit application to the MPA Office of Security or designee on the form provided;
      3. (c) Exhibit a valid State registration card or proof of ownership for the vehicle for which application is made; and
      4. (d) Exhibit a valid State driver's license, of the class authorized for that particular type of vehicle, covering the person operating the vehicle at the time of application, and exhibit proof of insurance for the vehicle for which application is made.
   2. (2) Requirements for a Visitor or Vendor Vehicle Pass. A Visitor or Vendor Vehicle Pass shall be obtained at the access control point of the facility to which access is desired. All visitors and vendors shall have received prior authorization to enter the facility from the MPA, the MdTA Police, or a tenant or other user of the facility. The person who authorized the visitor or vendor’s entry to the facility shall provide all required identification information to the MPA in advance through MPA’s electronic database.

   3. (3) Requirements for a 14-Day Pass. A person desiring a 14-Day Pass under this regulation shall:

      1. (a) Provide to the MPA Office of Security or designee evidence of hardship or exigent circumstances justifying the person’s failure to obtain a decal; and
      2. (b) Receive prior authorization from the MPA, the MdTA Police, or a tenant or other user of the Port facility to be on the facility for the requested period.
   4. (4) Requirements for a Cargo Gate Pass. A motor vehicle entering MPA port facilities to deliver or pick up cargo shall be issued a Cargo Gate Pass or E-Pass after its driver produces valid identification and establishes a legitimate business purpose for entry to the facility. The Cargo Gate Pass or E-Pass shall be validated by the tenant while the vehicle is on the facility and verified by the security guard on exit.

4. D. Decision on Application for Decals.

   1. (1) A Decal may be issued only to those persons who have employment-related or business-related purposes for gaining admission to MPA property.
   2. (2) If an application is denied, the applicant may confer with the MPA Director of Security as to the reason for the denial.
   3. (3) If the MPA Director of Security concurs in the denial, the applicant may appeal this decision to the MPA Deputy Executive Director.
   4. (4) An applicant has the rights granted in the Maryland Administrative Procedure Act, State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 2, Annotated Code of Maryland.

5. E. Display of Decals and Passes.

   1. (1) Decals. Upon approval of an application for a Decal, the MPA Office of Security or designee shall issue an identifying decal. This decal signifies to the MdTA Police and the MPA that an application is on file for the vehicle which has met all the requirements of this chapter. The decal, upon issue, shall immediately be applied to the vehicle windshield by the MPA Office of Security or designee and is the only evidence of application approval and is valid until termination.
   2. (2) 14-Day Passes. Upon approval of an application for a 14-Day Pass, the MPA Office of Security or designee shall issue a 14-Day Pass to the applicant. This pass, upon issue, shall be prominently displayed within the front left windshield area of the vehicle and in full view from the exterior while the motor vehicle is on MPA property.
   3. (3) Visitor or Vendor Vehicle Pass. Upon approval of a visitor or vendor's entrance into a facility, a designated security officer shall issue a Visitor or Vendor Vehicle Pass or E-Pass to the driver. The printed Visitor or Vendor Vehicle Pass shall be prominently displayed within the windshield area of the vehicle and in full view from the exterior with the date clearly visible while the motor vehicle is on MPA property. The E-Pass shall be displayed via the user’s mobile device when requested by security personnel or MdTA Police.

   4. (4) An operator or owner of a motor vehicle is in violation of this regulation if the owner or operator is required to display a decal or pass for the motor vehicle but:

      1. (a) Does not display a decal or pass; or
      2. (b) Displays an expired decal or pass.
6. F. Non-Transferability of Decals and Passes. A Decal or Visitor or Vendor Vehicle, 14-Day, or Cargo Gate Pass may not be transferred to or displayed on any vehicle other than the vehicle to which the decal or pass has been issued. A pass may not be transferred to or displayed by any person other than the person to whom issued.

7. G. Termination of Decals and Passes.

   1. (1) Decals.

      1. (a) Upon termination of a Decal, the decal shall be removed by the vehicle owner, by another person on the owner's behalf, or by a designated MPA or MdTA police employee.

      2. (b) Decal termination occurs on the earliest of:

         1. (i) The date the need for facility access stated in support of the original application no longer exists (for example, termination of employment on the terminal);
         2. (ii) The date the owner or operator voluntarily surrenders the permit;
         3. (iii) The date the MPA Office of Security or designee revokes or suspends the permit.
         4. (iv) The date ownership of the vehicle is transferred by the person who obtained the decal; or
         5. (v) Upon expiration of the Decal.

   2. (2) Visitor or Vendor Vehicles Passes.

      1. (a) The Visitor or Vendor Vehicle Pass shall be returned to a designated security officer or electronically closed upon departure of the motor vehicle from the facility.
      2. (b) The Visitor or Vendor Vehicle Pass automatically expires at the end of the calendar date indicated, upon its voluntary surrender, upon departure of the motor vehicle from the MPA facility at which the permit was issued, or upon revocation by the MPA Office of Security or designee in accordance with the provisions in this chapter.

   3. (3) 14-Day Passes.

      1. (a) The 14-Day Pass shall be returned to the MPA Office of Security or designee upon expiration of the pass.
      2. (b) The 14-Day Pass automatically expires at the end of the calendar date indicated, upon its voluntary surrender, when the need for which the permit was issued no longer exists, or upon revocation by the MPA Office of Security or designee in accordance with the provisions in this chapter.

8. H. Notice of Changes in Conditions.

   1. (1) Changes in the information given in the original application for the decal shall be reported by the applicant to the MPA Office of Security or designee immediately after the change.

   2. (2) The following changes shall be reported:

      1. (a) New motor vehicle registration plate number;
      2. (b) Sale or other disposition of the motor vehicle;
      3. (c) Loss of or damage to the decal;
      4. (d) Change of regularly assigned place of employment;
      5. (e) Change of applicant's employer; or
      6. (f) Change in the home address of the owner of the motor vehicle.
9. I. Limitations. The issuance of any decal or pass under this chapter or permission for any person to enter MPA property does not permit the motor vehicle or persons unrestricted access throughout a facility or unrestricted movement or parking in the facility for which the decal or pass is issued. Motor vehicles with decals or passes, and persons allowed to enter are permitted access to the property only when the need for access, as given in support of the application, exists. Every person in the facility shall obey these regulations regarding the operation and parking of motor vehicles together with all directives and signs issued by the MPA and all oral or written directions given by MdTA Police to implement this chapter.

Authority: Transportation Article, §§6-201 and 6-211, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: September 3, 1975 (2:20 Md. R. 1300)

Chapter revised effective June 1, 1980 (7:11 Md. R. 1038)

Regulation .02B amended effective October 15, 1990 (17:20 Md. R. 2429)

Regulation .03 amended effective October 15, 1990 (17:20 Md. R. 2429)

Regulation .03E amended effective February 24, 1986 (13:4 Md. R. 396)

Regulation .05A amended effective October 15, 1990 (17:20 Md. R. 2429)

Regulation .14B amended effective October 15, 1990 (17:20 Md. R. 2429)

Chapter revised effective May 8, 1995 (22:9 Md. R. 646)

Chapter revised effective October 5, 1998 (25:20 Md. R. 1532)

Regulation .02B amended effective February 18, 2002 (29:3 Md. R. 222); April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 525); January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1570); September 29, 2025 (52:19 Md. R. 957)

Regulation .03 amended effective February 18, 2002 (29:3 Md. R. 222); April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 525); January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1570); September 29, 2025 (52:19 Md. R. 957)

Regulation .04A, E amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1570)

Regulation .04E, F amended effective April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 525)

Regulation .04H adopted effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1570)

Regulation .05B, C amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1570)

Regulation .05B amended effective April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 525)

Regulation .07 amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1570)

Regulation .08 amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1570)

Regulation .09 amended effective April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 525)

Regulation .09B amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1570)

Regulation .12 amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1570)

Regulation .13 amended effective April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 525)

Regulation .14A amended effective April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 525)

Regulation .14B amended effective February 18, 2002 (29:3 Md. R. 222)

Regulation .14B, D amended effective January 5, 2015 (41:26 Md. R. 1570)