2858

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 548

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

3-702.

(b) (1) Upon receiving the petition, a judge [shall grant
the writ of habeas corpus immediately, if it appears that the
petitioner is entitled to the relief] MAY , OR SHALL IMMEDIATELY
REFER THE APPLICATION TO ANY COURT IN THE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN
WHICH THE PERSON CONFINED WAS CONVICTED, WITHOUT TAKING ANY OTHER
ACTION ON THE APPLICATION.

(2)  AN APPLICATION MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO ANY JUDGE
WHO PRESIDED AT THE TRIAL AT WHICH THE PERSON WAS CONVICTED,
EXCEPT WITH THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE APPLICANT OR THE PERSON
CONFINED.

(3)  A COURT TO WHICH AN APPLICATION FOR A WRIT HAS
BEEN REFERRED SHALL ACT IMMEDIATELY ON THE APPLICATION AND HAS NO
POWER TO REFER OR TRANSFER THE APPLICATION.

(4)  IN EXERCISING DISCRETION, THE JUDGE TO WHOM AN
APPLICATION FOR A WRIT IS MADE SHALL CONSIDER THE INTERESTS AND
CONVENIENCE OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED, INCLUDING THE STATE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1984.

Approved May 29, 1984.

CHAPTER 549

(Senate Bill 589)

AN ACT concerning

Forfeitures and Seizure of Motor Vehicles

FOR the purpose of providing that in the event of seizure of a
motor vehicle under certain circumstances, a hearing or

forfeiture shall be scheduled within a certain time;

providing an exception to certain State authority to dispose
of certain forfeited property; providing that a State's
Attorney shall notify the Motor Vehicle Administration
within a certain time upon seizure of a motor vehicle and a
recommendation for forfeiture; requiring a State's Attorney
to notify the owner of a motor vehicle within a certain time
of the seizure and of a certain determination; requiring a
hearing on the forfeiture of a motor vehicle to be scheduled
within a certain time; requiring a motor vehicle subject to
a bona fide recorded security interest to be released to a
certain party under certain circumstances; allowing a