5087
HARFORD COUNTY

given, the person summoned shall also notify the Clerk of
the Court that he desires the presence of the Officer who
issued the summons at the time of the hearing. In the
event that the person so summoned does not notify the
Clerk that he desires the presence of the officer at the
time of the hearing as aforesaid, it shall not be
necessary that the officer who issued the summons appear,
and the copy of the summons bearing the certification by
the officer shall be prima facie evidence of the matters
therein set forth. The Law Enforcement Agencies shall
cause notice of the provisions of this section to be
attached to all summonses used for violations of this
section. No summons shall be issued setting a trial date
less than fifteen (15) days from the date of offense.

(2)    Whenever an unattended motor vehicle may
be found in violation of the provisions of this section,
the registered owner, as disclosed by the records of the
State Motor Vehicle Administration, shall be held
responsible for the violation.

(3)    Any person charged with violation of
this section may give his written promise to appear in
Court by signing at least one (1) copy of the written
traffic citation prepared by the officer in which event
the officer shall deliver a copy of the citation to the
person, and thereupon the officer shall not take the
person into physical custody for the violation.

(4)    Any person who shall violate his written
promise to appear in Court to answer to a charge of a
violation of any of the provisions of this section shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor, regardless of the disposition
of the charge upon which he was originally charged. A
written promise to appear in Court may be complied with
by an appearance by counsel.

(e)    Penalties.

(1) Any person violating the provisions of
this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than ten
dollars ($10.00) nor more than five hundred dollars
($500.00), or imprisoned not less than ten (10) days, nor
more than three (3) months, or both fined and imprisoned.

(f)    Liability. Harford County, Maryland, or any
Fire Company serving Harford County, or any Law
Enforcement Officer or Agency shall not be held liable
for any damage to property that may result from the
proper application and enforcement of this section.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
is hereby declared to be an Emergency Act and necessary