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<section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="3-537" title_number="3" title_name="Law Enforcement" subtitle_number="5">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Identification” means a law enforcement officer’s agency or department, last name, and badge number or other identification number.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Law enforcement agency” has the meaning stated in § 3–536 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Law enforcement officer” has the meaning stated in § 3–536 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section does not apply to a law enforcement officer working in a plainclothes, nonuniformed, or undercover capacity.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A law enforcement officer shall wear identification on the law enforcement officer’s outermost layer of clothing while in the performance of duty in the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>On request of another, a law enforcement officer shall verbally disclose identification while in the performance of duty in the State.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A law enforcement officer who violates this section is guilty of a civil offense and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,500.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A violation of this section constitutes police misconduct for purposes of Subtitle 1 of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A police officer may issue a citation to a law enforcement officer who the police officer has probable cause to believe is committing or has committed a violation of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Adjudication under this section:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is not a criminal conviction for any purpose; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>does not impose any of the civil disabilities that may result from a criminal conviction.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A citation issued under this section shall be signed by the police officer who issued the citation and shall contain:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the name and address of the law enforcement officer charged;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the statute allegedly violated;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the date, location, and time that the violation occurred;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the fine that may be imposed;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>a notice stating that prepayment of the fine is allowed; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>a notice that states that the District Court shall promptly send the law enforcement officer a summons to appear for trial.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The form of the citation shall be uniform throughout the State and shall be prescribed by the District Court.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Chief Judge of the District Court shall establish a schedule for the prepayment of a fine for a violation of this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The law enforcement agency of the police officer who issued the citation shall forward to the District Court having venue a copy of the citation and a request for trial.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The District Court shall promptly schedule the case for trial and summon the defendant to appear.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>In any proceeding for a civil offense under this section:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the State has the burden to prove the guilt of the defendant by a preponderance of the evidence;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the court shall apply the evidentiary standards as prescribed by law or rule for the trial of criminal cases;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the court shall ensure that the defendant has received a copy of the charges against the defendant and that the defendant understands those charges;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the defendant is entitled to cross–examine all witnesses who appear against the defendant, to produce evidence or witnesses on behalf of the defendant, or to testify on the defendant’s own behalf, if the defendant chooses to do so;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>the defendant is entitled to be represented by counsel of the defendant’s choice and at the expense of the defendant; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>the defendant may enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, and the verdict of the court in the case shall be:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>guilty of a civil offense; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>not guilty of a civil offense.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>When a defendant has been found guilty of a civil offense under this section and a fine has been imposed by the court, the court may direct that the payment of the fine be suspended or deferred under conditions that the court may establish.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>The defendant may be liable for the costs of the proceedings in the District Court and for payment to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <level label="i">
        <text>A defendant who has been found guilty of a civil offense under this section has the same 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.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A motion shall be made in the same manner as provided in the trial of criminal cases, and the court, in ruling on the motion, has the same authority provided in the trial of criminal cases.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>The State’s Attorney for a county may prosecute a civil offense under this section in the same manner as prosecution of a violation of the criminal laws of the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="11">
      <text>In a civil offense case under this section, the State’s Attorney may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>enter a nolle prosequi in or place the case on the stet docket; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>exercise authority in the same manner as prescribed by law for violation of the criminal laws of the State.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
