Sec. 1-201. Effect of changes in the law.

   (a)    Changes. Unless the law expressly provides otherwise, when the County changes a law, the law does not affect:

      (1)   any rights vested in a person before the change became effective;

      (2)   any contract rights that existed before the change became effective; and

      (3)   any legal actions for a violation of the law that occurred before the change became effective.

   (b)    Modifications. For purposes of acts that occurred before a new law became effective, if the law modifies an existing provision in the Code, then the modified provision continues the existing provision unless:

      (1)   The new law states that it does not continue the existing provision; or

      (2)   The context indicates that the new law was not intended to continue the existing provision. (1987 L.M.C., ch. 35, § 1.)