Move Along Please

Roadside beggars are a nuisance. Politicians not so much. At least that's what might be inferred from this Flier story saying the county's state legislative delegation approved eight bills for consideration this session, including another attempt to install cameras to catch speeders, and a bill to ban curbside solicitors on state roads.

The no solicitation bill is similar to laws passed for Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties in previous legislative sessions.

Approved by the delegation at its Feb. 4 meeting in Annapolis, the Howard bill includes amendments that would allow people to stand along roads holding political signs. The amendments were aimed at addressing complaints from former political candidates worried about losing a “proven, effective” method of campaigning.

The bill will now be taken up by the House of Delegates, though no hearing schedule has been set yet.

Regarding the camera bill, Del. Gail Bates, a western Howard Republican, is trying to draft an amendment to steer any revenue from fines to charity.

Bates said the change is aimed at addressing complaints that the cameras "are nothing more than another tax."

When other lawmakers rejected her amendment because they considered it poorly worded, the bill was tabled to give her the chance to come up with better wording.