Ch. 372

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(iv) The Chief Judge of the District Court, in conjunction with the
Motor Vehicle Administrator, shall establish uniform procedures for reporting Code
violations described in this paragraph.

(4) The person shall be liable for the costs of the proceedings in the District
Court.

(g) Adjudication of a Code violation is not a criminal conviction for any purpose,
nor does it impose any of the civil disabilities ordinarily imposed by a criminal conviction.

(h) In any proceeding for a Code violation:

(1)     The State has the burden to prove the guilt of the defendant to the same
extent as is required by law in the trial of criminal causes, and in any such proceeding, the
court shall apply the evidentiary standards as prescribed by law or rule for the trial of

criminal causes;

(2)     The court shall ensure that the defendant has received a copy of the
charges against him and that he understands those charges. In such proceedings, the
defendant is entitled to cross-examine all witnesses who appear against him, to produce
evidence or witnesses in his own behalf, or to testify in his own behalf, if he elects to do
so;

(3)     The defendant is entitled to be represented by counsel of his own
selection and at his own expense; and

(4)     The defendant may enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, and the verdict of
the court in the case shall be:

(i) Guilty of a Code violation;

(ii) Not guilty of a Code violation; or

(iii) Before rendering judgment, the court may place the defendant on
probation in the same manner and to the same extent as is permitted by law in the trial of
a criminal case.

(i) The court costs in a Code violation case in which costs are imposed are $5. A
defendant is liable for payment to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund.

(j) When a defendant has been found guilty of a Code violation and a fine has
been imposed by the court, the court may direct that the payment of the fine be
suspended or deferred under such conditions as the court may establish. When any
defendant has been found guilty of a Code violation and willfully fails to pay the fine
imposed by the court, that willful failure may be treated as a criminal contempt of court,
for which the defendant may be punished by the court as provided by law.

(k) A defendant who has been found guilty of a Code violation has the right to
appeal or to file a motion for a new trial or a motion for a revision of a judgment provided
by law in the trial of a criminal case. The motions shall be made in the same manner
provided in the trial of criminal cases, and the court, in ruling on the motions, has the
same authority provided in the trial of criminal cases.

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