(a) A person must not carry any loose or bulky material in a motor vehicle on any road, as defined in Section 49-26, unless that part of the motor vehicle in which the load is carried is:
(1) Fully enclosed on the bottom and all sides; and
(2) Covered on the top by a firmly secured cover sufficient to contain all loose or bulky material, if the vehicle does not have a roof that covers the entire area in which the load is carried.
(b) A cover and (for bulky material) sides are not required if the material is contained or secured by other means that prevent its escape.
(c) As used in this section:
(1) Loose material includes dirt, ash, sand, pebbles, rocks, gravel, metal, glass, wood chips, and any other substance that can readily blow off or drop from a vehicle;
(2) Bulk material includes bricks, cinder blocks, lumber, logs, gypsum board, barrels, pipes, furniture, and any other items that can readily drop from a vehicle.
(d) This Section does not apply to:
(1) A government agency, or a contractor hired by a government agency, that is using a motor vehicle to:
(A) Drop sand, salt, or other materials to improve traction;
(B) Spread water or another substance to clean a road; or
(C) Collect newspapers for recycling.
(2) A vehicle transporting agricultural products as harvested.
(3) A construction or mining vehicle only when it is:
(A) Crossing a highway; or
(B) Moving between construction barricades on a public works project.
(4) A fire and rescue vehicle. (1988 L.M.C., ch. 20, § 1; , § 1.)
Editor’s note—Section 49-16, formerly Section 49-21A, was renumbered and amended pursuant to 2007, ch. 8
, § 1. Former Section 49-16 was renumbered Section 49-9 pursuant to 2007, ch. 8
, § 1. 
