1674                           LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 797

lators of the possession of alcoholic beverages law who are under
eighteen years of age.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 406B of Article 27 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1962 Supplement), title "Crimes and Punishments," subtitle
"Minors—Possession of Alcoholic Beverages in Worcester County
and in Anne Arundel County," be and it is hereby repealed and re-
enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

406B.

Any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years violating the
provisions of this subtitle shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and, upon a conviction thereof in any court of competent jurisdiction,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than three hundred
dollars ($300.00) or imprisoned in jail for a period not exceeding
sixty (60) days, or both fined and imprisoned in the discretion of
the court. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 26, subtitle
"Juvenile Causes," to the contrary, all prosecutions for violations
of the provisions of this section may be either upon presentment
and indictment 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 said county, as
the case may be, where the offense occurs, and jurisdiction original
and concurrent with the said courts having criminal jurisdiction 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 of the peace 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 said county 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
of the peace to commit such alleged offender for trial, or to hold
him to bail to appear for trial in the court having criminal jurisdic-
tion in the case, at its then or next session and to transmit said com-
mitment or recognizance with the names and residences of the wit-
nesses for the prosecution 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. Provided, however, that in Anne Arundel
County, the Circuit Court, sitting as a Juvenile Court pursuant to
Article 26, subtitle "Juvenile Causes," shall have original and exclu-
sive jurisdiction over any violation of this subtitle by any person
under eighteen (18) years of age, anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1963.

Approved May 6, 1963.