MACo Associate Director Les Knapp joined numerous county and municipal law enforcement officers in support of SB 560 before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on February 25.  The bill, sponsored by Senator Jennie Forehand, would require a person receiving a payable traffic citation to affirmatively request a trial in District Court.  Under current law, Maryland is the only state that automatically schedules a trial date for a person getting a traffic ticket.  As Mr. Knapp’s testimony explained, this antiquated system requires law enforcement officers to spend countless hours in District Court for trials where a person may not show.  The result is millions of dollars in wasted overtime payments and law enforcement officers being pulled off the streets.

The Maryland Municipal League and Department of State Police also testified in support of the bill.