796 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 427

(b) All prosecutions for violation of the provisions of
this section may be either upon presentment and indict-
ment in any court having criminal jurisdiction in this
State, or by trial before any justice of the peace duly
assigned to hear and determine criminal matters in and
for the county or the City of Baltimore, as the case may
be, where the offense occurs, and jurisdiction original and
concurrent with the said courts having criminal jurisdic-
tion is hereby given to the said justices of the peace as
aforesaid and they shall have power to issue all processes
and do all acts which may be necessary for the exercise of
said jurisdiction; and may try and determine all such cases
and may pronounce judgment and impose sentence therein
to the same extent as the aforesaid courts having criminal
jurisdiction could do in such cases, if such cases were tried
before such court without a jury; provided, however, that
if any person when brought before any such justice having
jurisdiction of the case, shall, before the trial for the
alleged offense, pray a jury trial, or if the State's Attorney
for the county or City of Baltimore where the offense
occurs shall, before the trial of such alleged offense, pray
a jury trial on behalf of the State, it shall be the duty of
such justice to commit such alleged offender for trial, or
to hold him to bail to appear for trial in the Court having
criminal jurisdiction in the case, at its then or next session
and to transmit said commitment or recognizance with
the names and residences of the witnesses for the prosecu-
tion endorsed thereon, forthwith to the Clerk of said
Court; and the justice of the peace, before whom the
accused is brought for trial, shall inform him seasonably
of his right to demand a trial by jury.

(c) Provided further that jurisdiction to try and deter-
mine all cases under Section 562, occurring with the City
of Baltimore, shall remain in the Criminal Court of Balti-
more City exclusively.

(d) Provided further that nothing in Sections 562 and
563 shall be construed to change, enlarge or diminish the
jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace in any of the counties
of the State or the City of Baltimore who are herein
specifically vested with authority to hear, try and deter-
mine cases under this section, but that only such Justices
are vested with authority herein as would have jurisdiction
and authority to hear, try and determine cases of violation
of the law before June 1, 1945.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall
take effect June 1, 1953.

Approved April 11, 1953.