[Adopted 10-24-2000 by Bill No. 2000-10]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The Sheriff and any Deputy Sheriff of the Wicomico County
Sheriff's Department, any person appointed by the Governor of the
State of Maryland as a special police officer with respect to the
property described in said commission, and any person designated by
the Wicomico County Council as having authority to issue citations
for violations of this chapter.
[Amended 10-17-2006 by Bill No. 2006-11]
Any land or water devoted to park or recreational uses and
owned, operated or established by Wicomico County, Maryland, including,
but not limited to, all parks, playgrounds, recreational areas, facilities,
buildings, grounds and water operated or administered by the Department
of Recreation and Parks for recreational purposes.
Any motor vehicle, including, without limitation, a truck,
automobile, motorcycle, moped, minibike, trail bike, all-terrain vehicle,
or snowmobile.
Any officer shall have authority to issue citations
for civil infractions of this article, and otherwise to enforce its
provisions.
A.
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle:
(1)
Where stopping, standing or parking a vehicle is prohibited
by an official sign;
(2)
Where stopping, standing and parking is restricted
to permit holders and a permit is not displayed from the rear view
mirror of the vehicle so as to be clearly visible from the front of
the vehicle;
(3)
At a curb indicated to be a fire lane;
(4)
In a parking space for use of an individual with disabilities
or otherwise reserved for the handicapped, unless the vehicle bears
a special registration plate, windshield placard or other valid permit
issued by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, another state,
or the District of Columbia;
(5)
In such a manner as to block or partially block any
bicycle, hiker, bridle path or access road;
(6)
On park property when the park is not open to the
public; or
(7)
On park property other than that designated for vehicle
parking.
B.
Any illegally parked vehicle may be removed and/or
impounded by the officer at the owner's expense.
[Amended 10-17-2006 by Bill No. 2006-11]
Any person who violates the provisions of this
article is guilty of a civil infraction and shall be subject to a
fine of not less than $25 nor more than $1,000. A schedule of fines
for violations may be established by resolution of the County Council.
Each day the violation continues constitutes a separate infraction.
B.
A citation issued for a vehicle in violation of this
article shall contain the following information:
(1)
The license plate identification of the vehicle;
(2)
The nature of the infraction;
(3)
The location and time that the infraction occurred
or was observed;
(4)
The amount of the fine assessed;
(5)
The manner and location in which the fine may be paid;
(6)
The date by which the fine must be paid, which shall
not be less than 10 days after the date of the citation;
(7)
Notice of the right to elect to stand trial and the
location where an election to stand trial may be filed;
(8)
The effect of failure to pay the fine or demand a
trial within the prescribed time; and
(9)
The certification of the official issuing the citation
attesting to the truth of the matters set forth in the citation or
that the citation is based on an affidavit.
C.
A copy of any citation issued pursuant to this article
shall be retained by the officer.
D.
Whenever an unattended vehicle is found in violation
of the provisions of this article, the registered owner of the vehicle
is presumed to be the person receiving the citation.
A.
Each person who, on the date a citation is issued,
is the registered owner of the vehicle which is in violation of this
article shall be jointly and severally responsible for the infraction.
B.
Whenever a citation for a vehicle which is in violation
of this article is delivered to an operator of the vehicle who is
not the registered owner of the vehicle, the operator and each registered
owner shall be jointly and severally responsible for the infraction.
C.
The registration for any vehicle which is the subject
of a citation issued pursuant to this article shall not be renewed
or transferred by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration upon notice
by the county to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration that:
A.
Any fine specified in a citation issued for an infraction
of this article is payable to the Director of Finance for Wicomico
County.
B.
Any person responsible for an infraction of this article
shall:
(1)
By the payment date set forth in the citation, pay
the fine for the infraction; or
(2)
At least five days before the payment date set forth
in the citation, elect to stand trial for the infraction.
(a)
The person responsible for the infraction may
elect to stand trial by filing with the Director of Finance for Wicomico
County a written notice of intention to stand trial.
(b)
If the person making the election desires the
presence at trial of the officer who issued the citation, the notice
shall so state.
(c)
If the notice of intention to stand trial does
not state that the person making the election desires the presence
at trial of the officer who issued the citation, the officer need
not appear at the trial.
C.
The person responsible for an infraction of this article
shall be liable for double the fine assessed by the citation if the
fine is not paid by the payment date set forth in the citation; and
either
A.
If the fine stated in a citation for an infraction
of this article is not paid by the payment date set forth in the citation:
