Bills To Become Law At Next Signing Ceremony
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan announced that he will sign into law nine bills related to public safety, law enforcement policy, community relations, and easing liability limits for civil claims. He will sign the bills into law at the next bill signing ceremony, to be held Tuesday, April 28.
“These bills directly address public safety and community relations issues, including the day-to-day operations of our law enforcement officials,” said Governor Hogan. “Ensuring the safety of our citizens will always be a priority of our administration, and I am proud to sign these bills into law.”
The bills include:
SB 321: The Baltimore City and Baltimore County – Police Behavioral Health Units – Pilot Program, which would require the Baltimore City Police Department and the Baltimore County Police to each establish a behavioral unit of at least six officers who are specially trained to understand the needs of individuals with mental health or substance abuse disorders.
SB 482 / HB 533: The Public Safety – Law Enforcement Officers – Body-Worn Digital Recording Device and Electronic Control Device, emergency bills that would make it lawful for a law enforcement officer to intercept an oral communication with a “body-worn digital recording device” or an “electronic control device.” These bills would also establish the Commission Regarding the Implementation and Use of Body Cameras by Law Enforcement Officers to study and make recommendations to the Police Training Commission and the General Assembly.
SB 882: Baltimore City Civilian Review Board, which would alter the definition of “law enforcement unit” as it relates to the Baltimore City Civilian Review Board so as to increase the number of law enforcement units that are subject to review by the Board.
HB 954: Public Safety – Deaths Involving a Law Enforcement Officer – Reports, which would require law enforcement agencies to provide the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention with information about deaths of individuals in police custody, as well as deaths of officers occurring in the line of duty.
SB 413: Vehicle Laws – Race-Based Traffic Stops – Policy and Reporting Requirements, which would require law enforcement officers to record demographic information, including race, pertaining to traffic stops.
HB 771: Baltimore Police Department – Reporting on Community Policing, which would require that a report be submitted annually to the Baltimore City legislative delegation, Baltimore City Mayor, and City Council with information on the diversity of the police force, as well as encounters with officers, including those resulting in civilian injuries, and number of officers suspended.
HB 113: Increasing Limits on Local Government Tort Claims Act, which increases the liability limits for a civil claim against a local government to $400,000. This cap was last raised 28 years ago in 1987.
HB 114: Increasing Limits on State Government Tort Claims Act, which increases the liability limits for a civil claim against state government to $800,000. This cap was last raised 16 years ago in 1999.
I guess I'm a little confused. WE have new laws every year or so , just how many laws do need?
ReplyDeleteWe can' and don't enforce the laws we have now. A good example that my wife and I took noticed of Sunday 4/26/2015. Here they are:
We noticed that the majority of drivers do not stop at stop signs. We noticed that drivers pass on a double yellow line. We noticed that drivers pass on the right into the bike lane. We noticed that drivers pass through the red light right after the yellow. We noticed that most drivers tailgate on rt 349. We noticed that most drivers are doing well above the speed limit in Bivalve and Nanticoke. We noticed that many drivers do not give turn signals . We also noticed that MOST drivers are using their cell phones.
In the city of Salisbury it is about the same.
Just so you know , if we can see these things , why can't the police. My guess is they don't give a crap.
6:35 you are correct but the main reason its not enforced is that the majority of cops do the very exact things you mention so why pull someone over for what you, yourself, are doing? Cops never use signal lights, either.
ReplyDeleteBc they cops don't want to pull people over , snowhill rd is a racetrack by Royal farms.
DeleteNo, cops don't enforce minor traffic law for 2 reasons. 1) they are understaffed and spend all day humping calls. 2) they don't want you to live in a "police state" and hammer you for every minor violation.
ReplyDeleteOhhh and lets not forget that cops have to go to court on their days off to witness the judge let everyone off with no or little fines... why is it worth their time?!
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that older Sunday drivers doing 49 in a 50 zone forget that some people actually work on Sundays or need to drive 20 miles to Salisbury because all the local stores have closed down or aren't open on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteI have ridden along many times with police, and when they are behind a person they are stopping, it is almost impossible to tell how old, what sex, race, etc. a driver is when they first notice the violation and come up behind them. If you are stopped, say "yes sir, no sir, thank you sir". Don't be a big jerk and mouth off.
ReplyDelete