Maryland drivers who get traffic tickets now have to ask for a trial date if they want one, due to new laws that kick into effect Saturday. The state of Maryland had previously assigned ticketed drivers a court date — automatically — to contest their violations. The new law requires drivers to request a trial date
within 30 days of receiving a ticket, or else pay the associated fine. A third option will remain for ticketed drivers who don’t wish to dispute their ticket, but want to explain their case to a judge before sentencing.
Supporters of the change say it will save courts time and money by cutting down on the number of no-shows at traffic hearings.
Also starting in January, big utility companies will have to buy a larger share of their power from solar companies or face a fine for noncompliance. The change will boost Maryland’s solar industry and drive down the cost of electricity in the long run, supporters say.
But complying with the law will cost big utilities like Pepco and Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. roughly $185 million through 2016, while adding a few dollars to ratepayers’ power bills.
The new charges, which are set to increase year-over-year, will add roughly 5 cents per month to residential consumers’ power bills in 2011. By 2016, the charges will rise to about 77 cents per month.
Only a handful of laws that the General Assembly passed in 2010 have a January implementation date.
Locally, Montgomery County is implementing on Saturday a law that requires employers to give the same benefits to a worker with a domestic partner as a married employee.
Under the county law, domestic partnership is defined as a same-sex relationship licensed as a civil union or marriage in another jurisdiction or an “unlicensed relationship between two individuals of the same sex who share a close personal relationship and are responsible for each other’s welfare; have shared the same legal residence for at least 12 months; are at least 18 years old.”
The legislation applies to family medical leave, sick leave, health benefits, dental benefits, disability insurance, life insurance and retirement benefits. It affects only contracts that go into effect after Saturday.
