Local Leads: 09/28/09

The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:

MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE SPEEDING TICKETS
Montgomery County is asking the state's highest court to require on-duty police officers to pay speed camera tickets, saying the issue has "far-reaching ramifications" as Maryland readies for the cameras to be used statewide. The Examiner first reported that a Montgomery County Circuit Court judge tossed out speed camera citations issued to four speeding on-duty police officers in July, including two who were driving 50 mph and 51 mph in 25 mph zones. (Washington Examiner)  

SPOTSYLVANIA NOISE ORDINANCE
The Spotsylvania County  Board of Supervisors has scheduled an Oct. 13 public hearing to change the noise, animal and fowl ordinance. Supervisors believe these changes could help residents who feel they are harassed by the din of barking and howling dogs left outside. Barking dogs are causing problems in other parts of Virginia. In July, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors decided not to extend to rural areas a ban on barking dogs. Opponents thought the ordinance was anti-dog, while supporters argued that excessive dog barking violates the rights of neighboring landowners. (Free Lance-Star)

MARYLAND DRUNKEN DRIVING LAWS
Drunken driving laws that go into effect Wednesday are missing a key component -- mandatory treatment for offenders -- according to those who have had a vested interest in reducing alcohol- and drug-related traffic fatalities in Maryland. Michael Gimbel, the former Baltimore County director of substance abuse whose program was used as a model by the National Commission Against Drunk Driving, contends that legislators should make treatment mandatory for all first-time offenders. (Baltimore Sun)

TOUGHER TEXTING LAWS IN MARYLAND
Texting while driving will soon spell big trouble for Maryland drivers. This week, a law that bans sending text messages while driving will go into effect, and anyone caught violating the law will be subject to a fine of up to $500. Texting behind the wheel will be a primary violation, meaning officers can pull over anyone they see using a wireless device to text while driving. (The Capital)

BULLET WENT THROUGH WALL
The bullet allegedly fired from a gun owned by a Gaithersburg assistant city manager went through a wall and into his neighbor's apartment. Gaithersburg Assistant City Manager Fred Felton told city police that he planned to clean his .357-caliber Ruger double-action revolver when he loaded it with six rounds of ammunition and accidentally discharged it Tuesday, sending one round through the wall of his living room, according to police charging documents. The bullet tore through a wall six feet from where his neighbor was sitting. (Gazette)

DISTRICT CRACKS DOWN ON SMOKING
The D.C. Council is eyeing an extension of the city's anti-tobacco prohibitions into public space, allowing all private property owners to ban smoking outside their buildings -- including the public sidewalk.  The proposed legislation, a major expansion of the District's smoke-free law, sets 18 as the legal age to purchase or possess tobacco products, requires retailers to post signs warning of the dangers of smoking, ramps up enforcement of sales to minors and authorizes smoking bans up to 25 feet from the wall of any private property -- residential or commercial.  (The Examiner) 

ANOTHER STORE CLOSING
Bailey Banks & Biddle jewelry stores are targeted for shut down as part of the bankruptcy that has claimed jewelry chain Finlay Enterprises Inc. There are five stores in the D.C. area at Westfield Montgomery, Tysons Corner Center and The Fashion Center at Pentagon City, Fair Oaks and The Mall in Columbia. Finlay filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Aug. 5.  (Washington Business Journal)