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very gracious lady asked me a question, being a disolute
woman was held to be.a petty offense.
But let me, if I may, Mr. Chairman, yield
the floor to Delegate Carson. The field of criminal law
is more of his calling than it is mine. I think he might
be able to supply more answers.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Carson.
DELEGATE CARSON: Well, the Federal Congress
has in the area of petty offenses made, for example,
oleo margerine violations having small penalties, small
traffic infractions on the Federal enclaves, including
the Baltimore-Washington Expressway in this State, and
numerous, numerous other ones. The MAryland cases make
it very clear that you cannot have such an offense that
existed in common law and for which there was a jury trial
There was a Maryland case making it clear that you can say
a $5.00 larceny would be a limited offense.
We are talking about petty offenses, some of
which existed then, and some of which were created since.
Congress has had many, and the State of Maryland
has had many in the past.