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<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 41-11 Adjudication by District Court.">
  <section prefix="§" num="41-11" heading="Adjudication by District Court.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">
      <para num="(1)">This section applies to proceedings in the District Court to enforce a civil citation issued under this subtitle.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Adjudication of a civil citation is not a criminal proceeding, and a finding of guilty does not impose any civil disability ordinarily imposed by a criminal conviction.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Burden of proof.">Except in the case of a default under &lt;cite data-path="|1|§41-10"&gt;§ 41-10 of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;, the City has the burden to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant has committed the offense charged.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Right to counsel.">The defendant may be represented by counsel of her or his own choice, at her or his own expense.</para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Plea.">The defendant shall enter a plea of “guilty” or “not guilty”.</para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Testimony, etc.">The defendant may:<para num="(1)">testify on his or her own behalf;</para>
      <para num="(2)">produce evidence and witnesses in his or her own behalf; and</para>
      <para num="(3)">cross-examine witnesses who testify against the defendant.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(f)" heading="Verdict.">
      <para num="(1)">The court shall issue a verdict of “guilty” or “not guilty” of the offense charged.</para>
      <para num="(2)">If the court finds the defendant guilty, the court may:<para num="(i)">impose on the defendant the fine and, if applicable, default penalty prescribed;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">impose court costs on the defendant; and</para>
        <para num="(iii)">suspend or defer payment of a fine or penalty under conditions, including the performance of community service, that the court sets.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 03-595</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
