Joel StevickAppendix B · section 8 of 32
ask/corpus.ts
From Writing From a Book.
// The laws the box may answer from, and nothing else.
//
// Every entry is a real Maryland law as the production corpus records it:
// the rule in plain words, the question a learner would ask, and a citation
// whose quoted part is the source's own sentence, verbatim. A manual law
// cites the printed page of the Maryland Driver's Manual; a statute cites its
// section of the Maryland Code and was fetched from the General Assembly's
// site on the date in `asOf`; a page row is a passage of the MVA's own site.
// The pipeline never shows a word that is not in this file.
export const STATE = "MD";
export const STATE_NAME = "Maryland";
export interface Law {
id: string;
/** The rule, in plain words for a manual law and the code's own words for a chunk of it. */
law: string;
/** How a learner would ask it; empty for a chunk cut from the code. */
question: string;
/** The topic, or the section heading a chunk was cut from, or the family of a page row. */
concept: string;
/** "p.27 (printed) — '…'" for the manual; "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1003(m) — '…'" for the code. */
citation: string;
/** Absent for a manual law. `penalty` rows are never in this file: Chapter 8 joins them. */
kind?: "statute" | "penalty" | "process";
/** The day the source was fetched, ISO. The date the law was true as of. */
asOf?: string;
}
const MANUAL = "2026-09-06";
const CODE = "2026-10-05";
export const LAWS: Law[] = [
// --- the manual ---------------------------------------------------------
{
id: "MD-046",
law: "The MVA recommends a minimum following distance of 3 to 4 seconds under ideal driving conditions.",
question: "What is the least following distance the MVA recommends in good conditions?",
concept: "following-distance",
citation: "p.15 (printed) — 'The MVA recommends a minimum following distance of 3 to 4 seconds under ideal driving conditions.'",
asOf: MANUAL,
},
{
id: "MD-049",
law: "Behind vehicles that stop often, such as buses and delivery vans, increase your following distance to four or five seconds, and more if you need it.",
question: "How much room should you leave behind a bus or a delivery van?",
concept: "following-distance",
citation: "p.15 (printed) — 'you should increase the distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you to four or five seconds'",
asOf: MANUAL,
},
{
id: "MD-056",
law: "Buses, school buses and trucks carrying hazardous materials must stop before every railroad crossing.",
question: "Which vehicles must stop at every railroad crossing?",
concept: "railroad-crossings",
citation: "p.30 (printed) — 'Buses, school buses, and trucks carrying hazardous materials must stop before every railroad crossing.'",
asOf: MANUAL,
},
{
id: "MD-064",
law: "At a steady red signal, come to a complete stop at the stop line; if there is no stop line, stop before the crosswalk and before entering the intersection, and stay stopped as long as the signal is red.",
question: "Where must you stop at a steady red signal with no stop line?",
concept: "traffic-signals",
citation: "p.17 (printed) — 'Come to a complete stop at the stop line. If there is no stop line, stop before the crosswalk and before entering the intersection.'",
asOf: MANUAL,
},
{
id: "MD-099",
law: "You must turn on your headlights any time there is not enough light to clearly see at least 1,000 feet in front of your vehicle.",
question: "At what distance of poor visibility must you turn on your headlights?",
concept: "reduced-visibility",
citation: "p.27 (printed) — 'you must turn on your headlights anytime there is not enough light to clearly see at least 1,000 feet in front of your vehicle'",
asOf: MANUAL,
},
{
id: "MD-102",
law: "You must change to low beams when following a vehicle that is 300 feet or less in front of you.",
question: "How close behind a vehicle must you switch to low beams?",
concept: "reduced-visibility",
citation: "p.27 (printed) — 'Change to low beams when following a vehicle that is 300 feet or less in front of you.'",
asOf: MANUAL,
},
// --- the code, hand-written from its sections ----------------------------
{
id: "MD-S01",
law: "You may not stand or park a vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.",
question: "How far from a fire hydrant must you park?",
concept: "park-hydrant",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1003(m) — 'A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S02",
law: "Except in Baltimore City, you may not stand or park a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.",
question: "How far from a crosswalk at an intersection must you park?",
concept: "park-crosswalk",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1003(n) — 'A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S03",
law: "You may not stop, stand or park a vehicle in an intersection.",
question: "May you park in an intersection?",
concept: "park-intersection",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1003(d) — 'A person may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle in an intersection.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S04",
law: "You may not stand or park a vehicle within 30 feet on the approach to a flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign or traffic signal at the side of the road.",
question: "How far from a stop sign or traffic signal must you park?",
concept: "park-stop-sign",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1003(o) — 'A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 30 feet on the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S05",
law: "You may not stand or park within 20 feet of a fire station driveway, or within 75 feet of it on the opposite side of the road where signs say so.",
question: "How far from a fire station driveway must you park?",
concept: "park-fire-station",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1003(p) — 'A person may not stand or park a vehicle within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station or on the side of a highway opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of the entrance, if properly signposted.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S06",
law: "You may not park a vehicle within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing.",
question: "How far from a railroad crossing must you park?",
concept: "park-railroad",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1003(t) — 'A person may not park a vehicle within 50 feet of the nearest rail in a railroad grade crossing.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S07",
law: "On a two-way road you must park parallel to the right-hand curb, with your right-hand wheels within 12 inches of it.",
question: "How close to the curb must you park?",
concept: "park-curb",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1004(a) — 'a vehicle that is stopped or parked on a two-way roadway shall be stopped or parked parallel to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway, with its right hand wheels within 12 inches of that curb or edge of the roadway.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S08",
law: "Unless on official business, you may not follow within 500 feet of a fire truck answering an alarm, or drive or park within 300 feet of one stopped at an alarm.",
question: "How far behind a fire truck answering an alarm may you follow?",
concept: "follow-fire-truck",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1109(a) — '(1) Follow within 500 feet of any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm; or (2) Drive or park within 300 feet of any fire apparatus stopped in response to a fire alarm.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S09",
law: "A signal to turn right or left must be given continuously for at least the last 100 feet before the turn.",
question: "How far before a turn must you signal?",
concept: "signal-distance",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-604(d) — 'a signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during at least the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S10",
law: "Where no other limit is set, the maximum speed is 30 mph on all highways in a business district and on undivided highways in a residential district, and 35 mph on divided highways in a residential district.",
question: "What is the speed limit on a residential street when no sign is posted?",
concept: "speed-default",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-801.1(b) — '(2) 30 miles per hour on: (i) All highways in a business district; and (ii) Undivided highways in a residential district; (3) 35 miles per hour on divided highways in a residential district;'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S11",
law: "Where no other limit is set, the maximum speed elsewhere is 50 mph on undivided highways and 55 mph on divided highways.",
question: "What is the speed limit on a highway outside town when no sign is posted?",
concept: "speed-open-road",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-801.1(b) — '(4) 50 miles per hour on undivided highways in other locations; and (5) 55 miles per hour on divided highways in other locations.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S12",
law: "Every licensee under 21 is under an alcohol restriction: no driving with any alcohol in the blood at all.",
question: "What is the blood alcohol limit for drivers under 21?",
concept: "bac-under-21",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 16-113(b) — 'the Administration shall impose on each licensee under the age of 21 years an alcohol restriction that prohibits the licensee from driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while having alcohol in the licensee’s blood.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S13",
law: "You may not drive while wearing earphones attached to a radio or other audio device over or in both ears.",
question: "May you wear headphones while driving?",
concept: "headphones",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1120(c) — 'while the person is wearing over or in both ears earphones attached to a radio, tape player, or other audio device.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S14",
law: "No one in a vehicle on a highway may have an open container holding any amount of alcohol in the passenger area.",
question: "May you have an open container of alcohol in the car?",
concept: "open-container",
citation: "Md. Code, Crim. Law § 10-125(a) — 'an occupant of a motor vehicle may not possess an open container that contains any amount of an alcoholic beverage in a passenger area of a motor vehicle on a highway.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
{
id: "MD-S15",
law: "Littering up to 100 pounds, not for gain, is a misdemeanor with up to 30 days in jail or a fine of up to $1,500, or both.",
question: "What is the penalty for littering?",
concept: "littering",
citation: "Md. Code, Crim. Law § 10-110(f) — 'is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or a fine not exceeding $1,500 or both.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: CODE,
},
// --- the code, cut by a script into subsections (Chapter 9) ---------------
{
id: "MD-C-16-112-b",
law: "(b) Each individual driving a motor vehicle on any highway in this State shall have his license with him.",
question: "",
concept: "",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 16-112(b) — '(b) Each individual driving a motor vehicle on any highway in this State shall have his license with him.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: "2026-10-06",
},
{
id: "MD-C-16-112-c",
law: "(c) (1) Each individual driving a motor vehicle on any highway in this State shall display the license to any uniformed police officer who demands it. (2) A credential holder is deemed to have satisfied the display requirement under paragraph (1) of this subsection only if the uniformed police officer is able to access the verification system authorized under § 16–1003 of this title.",
question: "",
concept: "",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 16-112(c) — '(c) (1) Each individual driving a motor vehicle on any highway in this State shall display the license to any uniformed police officer who demands it. (2) A credential holder is deemed to have satisfied the display requirement under paragraph (1) of this subsection only if the uniformed police officer is able to access the verification system authorized under § 16–1003 of this title.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: "2026-10-06",
},
{
id: "MD-C-16-112-d",
law: "(d) Each individual driving a motor vehicle on any highway in this State shall, if requested by the officer, sign his usual signature in the presence of the officer so that the officer may determine whether he is the licensee.",
question: "",
concept: "",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 16-112(d) — '(d) Each individual driving a motor vehicle on any highway in this State shall, if requested by the officer, sign his usual signature in the presence of the officer so that the officer may determine whether he is the licensee.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: "2026-10-06",
},
{
id: "MD-C-16-112-e",
law: "(e) A person may not give the name of another person or give a false or fictitious name to any uniformed police officer who is attempting to determine the identity of a driver of a motor vehicle.",
question: "",
concept: "",
citation: "Md. Code, Transp. § 16-112(e) — '(e) A person may not give the name of another person or give a false or fictitious name to any uniformed police officer who is attempting to determine the identity of a driver of a motor vehicle.'",
kind: "statute",
asOf: "2026-10-06",
},
// --- the state's own pages (Chapter 8) ------------------------------------
{
id: "MD-R-test-and-retake-1",
law: "If you fail a knowledge test, you can schedule an appointment at a branch office or through the MVA website to retake it. You may retest the next business day after failing for the first time, if an appointment is available After failing two or more times, you must wait at least seven calendar days before retesting — this applies to all noncommercial and commercial knowledge tests",
question: "If I fail my driving test, how soon can I take it again?",
concept: "test-and-retake",
citation: "Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration — Prepare for a Driver's License Test — 'If you fail a knowledge test, you can schedule an appointment at a branch office or through the MVA website to retake it. You may retest the next business day after failing for the first time, if an appointment is available After failing two or more times, you must wait at least seven calendar days before retesting — this applies to all noncommercial and commercial knowledge tests'",
kind: "process",
asOf: "2026-10-11",
},
{
id: "MD-R-insurance-minimums-1",
law: "Maryland law requires at least: $30,000 for bodily injury per person $60,000 for bodily injury per accident $15,000 for property damage",
question: "What car insurance do I need to drive?",
concept: "insurance-minimums",
citation: "Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration — Auto Insurance Requirements in Maryland — 'Maryland law requires at least: $30,000 for bodily injury per person $60,000 for bodily injury per accident $15,000 for property damage'",
kind: "process",
asOf: "2026-10-11",
},
];