A bill in Annapolis that would put the burden on the recipient of a traffic ticket to request a trial rather than pay the fine has been approved by a Senate committee and is headed for the floor. Meanwhile, there are signs it might not be doomed in the House despite the open skepticism of a powerful committee chairman.

The bill, ardently supported by police chiefs around the state for its potential savings on officers' overtime, got an OK from the Judicial Proceeding Committee Thursday. Meanwhile, its Senate sponsor, Sen. Jennie Forehand, said she had a cordial conversation about the bill with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph Vallario.

Vallario, who gave supporters of the legislation a chilly reception during its hearing in his committee, has reportedly been lobbied by Gov. Martin O'Malley to let the bill out of committee. He has also come under pressure from the General Assembly's women's caucus over the treatment of witnesses before his panel, including police chiefs who showed up to support the traffic  court bill.

Supporters say the legislation, which would  bring Maryland's traffic court practices into line with the  vast majority of other states, would reduce the number of ticket recipients who are scheduled for trial but fail to show up.