<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-101" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The legislative body of a municipality may provide that violations of ordinances and resolutions authorized by this division are punishable as misdemeanors.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A penalty for a violation of an ordinance or resolution that is declared to be a misdemeanor under this section may not exceed imprisonment for 6 months or a fine of $5,000 or both.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Sections 7–504 and 7–505 of the Courts Article shall govern imprisonment in default of fines and costs.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-102" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>Unless State law classifies a violation as a criminal offense, the legislative body of a municipality may provide, by law, that a violation of a municipal ordinance is a municipal infraction.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A municipal infraction is a civil offense.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The legislative body of a municipality may classify as a municipal infraction:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a violation of an ordinance or regulation concerning zoning or land use; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>littering in the municipality as prohibited under § 10–110 of the Criminal Law Article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>A fine not exceeding $5,000 may be imposed for each municipal infraction.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The fine is payable to the municipality by the person charged in the citation within 20 calendar days of service of the citation.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-103" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>Any official authorized by the legislative body of a municipality to act as an enforcement officer may serve a citation on a person:</text> <level label="1"> <text>who the official believes is committing or has committed a municipal infraction; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>on the basis of an affidavit that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>cites the facts of the alleged infraction; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>is submitted to a designated official of the municipality.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The citation shall be served on the defendant:</text> <level label="i"> <text>in accordance with Maryland Rule 3–121; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>for real property–related violations, if an affidavit is made that good faith efforts to serve the defendant under Maryland Rule 3–121(a) have not succeeded, by:</text> <level label="1"> <text>regular mail to the defendant’s last known address; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>posting the citation at the property where the municipal infraction has occurred or is occurring and, if located in the municipality, at the defendant’s residence or place of business.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The enforcement officer shall retain a copy of the citation.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The citation shall contain:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the enforcement officer’s certification:</text> <level label="i"> <text>attesting to the truth of the matter set forth in the citation; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>that the citation is based on an affidavit;</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the name and address of the defendant;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the nature of the municipal infraction;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>the location and time that the municipal infraction occurred;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>the amount of the fine assessed;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>the manner, location, and time in which the fine may be paid to the municipality;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>notice of the defendant’s right to elect to stand trial; and</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>notice of the effect of failing to pay the fine or demand a trial within the required time.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-104" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>An enforcement officer may serve a summons with a citation that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>requires the defendant to appear in District Court at a specified date and time; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>specifies that the defendant is not required to appear in District Court if the fine is paid as provided in the citation.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>If approved by the Chief Judge of the District Court of Maryland, the citation form may contain the summons.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The enforcement officer shall coordinate the selection of court dates with the appropriate District Court officials.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-105" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>If a citation is served without a summons, the defendant may elect to stand trial for the municipal infraction by providing written notice of intent to stand trial to the municipality at least 5 days before the payment date specified in the citation.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>After receiving the written notice of intention to stand trial, the municipality shall forward a copy of the citation and notice to the District Court having venue.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>After receiving the citation and notice, the District Court shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>schedule the case for trial; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>notify the defendant of the trial date.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-106" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>If the defendant does not pay the fine by the date of payment set forth on the citation and does not send to the municipality the written notice of intent to stand trial:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the defendant is liable for the fine;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the municipality may double the fine to an amount not exceeding $1,000 and request adjudication of the case through the District Court, including the filing of a demand for judgment on affidavit; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the District Court promptly shall schedule the case for trial and summon the defendant to appear.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>If the municipality makes a proper demand for judgment on affidavit and the defendant does not respond to a summons issued under subsection (a)(3) of this section, the District Court shall enter judgment against the defendant in favor of the municipality in the amount then due.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-107" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <text>If the defendant does not pay the fine as provided in the citation and does not appear in District Court as provided in the summons:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the municipality may double the fine to an amount not exceeding $1,000; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the court may enter judgment against the defendant in the amount then due if the proper demand for judgment on affidavit has been made.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-108" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The State’s Attorney for a county may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>prosecute a municipal infraction; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>enter a nolle prosequi; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>place a municipal infraction case on the stet docket.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a municipality may designate an attorney to prosecute a municipal infraction in the same manner as the State’s Attorney for a county.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-108.1" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In this section, “qualified building inspector or enforcement officer” means a building inspector or an enforcement officer that is nationally accredited and certified by the International Code Council or the National Fire Protection Association as:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a building inspector;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a fire inspector;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>an accessibility inspector; or</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>a property maintenance and housing inspector.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A municipality may designate a qualified building inspector or enforcement officer to testify in a municipal infraction proceeding without the assistance of a prosecuting attorney.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Nothing in this section shall limit or restrict the ability of a prosecuting attorney to call individuals to testify in a municipal infraction proceeding.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-109" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In a municipal infraction proceeding:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the District Court shall confirm that the defendant has received a copy of and understands the charges;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the defendant may enter a plea of guilty or not guilty;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the District Court shall apply the evidentiary standards provided by law or rule for the trial of a civil case;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>the defendant may:</text> <level label="i"> <text>cross–examine witnesses;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>produce evidence or witnesses on the defendant’s own behalf;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>testify; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>be represented by counsel of the defendant’s choice and at the defendant’s expense; and</text> </level> </level> <level label="5"> <text>the municipality has the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant has committed the infraction.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The District Court may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>enter a verdict of guilty or not guilty; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>before entering a verdict, place the defendant on probation.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-110" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <text>If the District Court finds that the defendant has committed a municipal infraction:</text> <level label="1"> <level label="i"> <text>the court shall order the defendant to pay the fine, including any doubling of the fine, not exceeding the limit under § 6–102(c) of this subtitle;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the fine imposed is a judgment in favor of the municipality; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>if the fine remains unpaid for 30 days after the judgment is entered, the judgment is enforceable in the same manner and to the same extent as other civil judgments for money unless the court has suspended or deferred the payment of the fine as provided under item (2) of this section;</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the court may suspend or defer the payment of the fine under conditions that the court sets;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the defendant is liable for the costs of the court proceedings; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>the court may order the defendant to abate the infraction or enter an order authorizing the municipality to abate the infraction at the defendant’s expense.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-111" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>If a municipality abates an infraction under a District Court order, the municipality shall present the defendant with a bill for the cost of abatement by:</text> <level label="1"> <text>regular mail to the defendant’s last known address; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>any other means that are reasonably calculated to give notice of the bill to the defendant.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>If the defendant does not pay the bill within 30 days after it is presented under subsection (a) of this section, on a motion of the municipality, the District Court shall enter a judgment against the defendant for the cost of the abatement.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-112" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>Court costs in a municipal infraction proceeding in which costs are imposed are $5.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A defendant is not liable for payment to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-113" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <text>All fines, penalties, or forfeitures collected by the District Court for a municipal infraction shall be remitted to the municipality in which the infraction occurred.</text> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-114" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <text>If, without good cause, a defendant does not pay a fine or cost imposed by the District Court, the court may treat the failure as contempt of court.</text> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="6-115" title_number="6" title_name="Violations of Ordinances and Resolutions" subtitle_number="1"> <text>Adjudication of a municipal infraction is not a criminal conviction for any purpose.</text> </section>