Ch. 207                             MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                  569

CHAPTER 207
(Senate Bill 1046)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 17-101 of Article 66
1/2 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1970 Replacement Volume and 1972
Supplement), title "Vehicle Laws," subtitle "Subtitle 17. Penalties and
Disposition of Fines and Forfeitures," and to add new Section 17-102 to the
same article, title and subtitle to eliminate imprisonment as a punishment for
violation of certain provisions of the motor vehicle laws of this State and
relating generally to penalties for violating said motor vehicle laws.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Section 17-101 of Article 66 1/2 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1970 Replacement Volume and 1972 Supplement), title "Vehicle
Laws," subtitle "Subtitle 17. Penalties and Disposition of Fines and Forfeitures,"
be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, and that Section
17-102 be and it is hereby added to the said article, title and subtitle to read as
follows:

17-101.

(a)  It is a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this
article unless the violation is by this article or other law of this State declared to
be a felony.

(b)   [Every person convicted of a misdemeanor for a violation of any of the
provisions of Subtitles 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 for which another penalty is not
provided shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars
($500.00) or by imprisonment for not more than 2 months or by both fine and
imprisonment] EVERY PERSON CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR FOR
THE VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE
PUNISHED BY A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $500, except that:

(i) Every person who is convicted of violation of § 6-303 . SECTION 11-904 or
of subsection (a) of § 11-902 shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than
one (1) year or by fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or both
fine and imprisonment.

On a second or subsequent conviction he may be punished by imprisonment for
not more than two (2) years, and in the discretion of the court, a fine of not more
than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

(ii) Every person who is convicted of a SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT violation
of subsection (b) of § 11-902 [[shall be punished by a fine of not more than five
hundred dollars ($500.00).

On a second or subsequent conviction he]] may be punished by imprisonment
for not more than one (1) year, and in the discretion of the court, a fine of not
more than five hundred dollars ($500.00).

(III) EVERY PERSON WHO IS CONVICTED OF A VIOLATION OF
ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF § 4-102, § 4-103, § 4-104, § 4-107, § 4-110, §
5-401, § 6-301, §6-301.1, § 10-102, § 10-108, OR § 11-206 OR SECTION 11-902
OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE OF NOT MORE
THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) OR BY IMPRISONMENT
FOR NOT MORE THAN 2 MONTHS OR BY BOTH FINE AND
IMPRISONMENT.