Have you received a Maryland traffic ticket recently? Are you thinking about just paying the fine and moving past all of that hassle? You wouldn’t be alone – countless people pay traffic tickets without a moment’s thought, and many of them end up facing much steeper costs than they’re expecting.
Far from being a minor annoyance, traffic tickets can have severe and long-lasting consequences, including sizable fines, insurance increases, and even license suspensions. Seeking an experienced traffic ticket attorney in MD is your best chance of protecting your ability to drive. Whether you’re facing a traffic ticket because of speeding or skipping a red light, let our team here at Kunka Law get to work protecting your driving record.
Different Types of Traffic Tickets in Maryland
Traffic tickets, otherwise known as traffic citations, are issued for a wide range of violations in the State of Maryland. Traffic citations will typically be one of two types, which are:
- Payable Offenses: Payable traffic tickets provide the option of paying a fine to avoid court appearances. These offenses aren’t punishable with jail time.
- Must Appear Offenses: Must appear tickets require the driver to appear in court based on their violation. These offenses tend to be more serious and could run the risk of incarceration.
Depending on the severity of your crime, an officer may also choose to simply issue a warning, which will be either verbal or written and will not harm your driving record. However, if you receive an official traffic ticket, which can be either handwritten or online, the consequences will be more severe, and it’s best to contact a member of our team to secure the defense you deserve.
Understanding Common Maryland Traffic Violations
You can receive a traffic ticket for a range of violations in Maryland, the most common of which include –
- Speeding: Speeding is one of the most common traffic violations, and can lead to traffic tickets of varying severity. Typically, speeding 10-90 mph over the speed limit will result in two license points and fines up to $160. Driving 30+ mph over the speed limit can have more severe outcomes, like potential license suspension and fines of up to $530.
- Aggressive Driving: Aggressive driving can combine multiple traffic violations such as speeding or skipping red lights, but will typically result in 5 points and a $370 fine.
- Driving violations: Driving violations like failing to yield right of way can add 1 point to your license, or 3 points if an accident occurs as a result. Drivers in these cases may also face fines up to $110.
Other common reasons for a payable traffic ticket may include:
- Driving without insurance
- Driving with a suspended/revoked license
- Running a stop sign
- Etc.
By comparison, ‘must appear’ citations will most commonly occur in cases with more serious offenses, like Driving under the influence. We have experience defending clients against a wide range of traffic ticket violations, and can help you to understand the penalties you face, and your best option for dealing with them.
The Maryland Points System
The State of Maryland and the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) track traffic violations based on a point system. Even if a traffic ticket seems like a minor concern, this system may result in more severe punishment if you’re close to the point threshold. The point system then assigns varying penalties as follows –
- 3-4 points: You’ll receive a warning letter from the MVA
- 5-7 points: You may be required to enroll in a driver improvement program (DIP)
- 8-11 points: You may have your license suspended
- 12+ points: The MVA may send notice of license revocation
The points system is also accumulative, meaning that points from any further traffic violations in the next two years will be added to your total. As such, even a one-point offense like failing to give way could result in severe penalties like license suspension.
However, points are only assessed if you ‘plead guilty’ to a traffic ticket, which you’ll do as soon as you pay your fine. That’s why you need an experienced traffic attorney on your side, who can help you to avoid further points on your license.
Do You Have a Choice About Paying A Traffic Ticket?
It’s never pleasant to have a traffic ticket hanging over you, and you may want to simply pay your fine to move past this issue. Unfortunately, paying your fine effectively means that you’re pleading guilty. Points will then be added to your license, and it’ll be difficult to avoid potentially severe penalties as a result.
Luckily, while individuals who receive a ‘must appear’ citation have no choice about appearing in court, you do have various options with a payable traffic ticket as long as you act within 30 days. Your main options are –
- Paying the Fine: You can simply choose to pay a fine, though this does mean admitting your guilt. Paying could be the easiest option if this is a first offense, and you’ve only committed a minor infraction.
- Pleading ‘Guilty With an Explanation’: You can also choose to plead guilty with an explanation, which will see you requesting a waiver hearing in front of a judge to explain mitigating circumstances in your case. A judge may reduce or waive your fine, but they may also raise your fine amount as a result.
- Request a Trial: If you don’t agree with a traffic ticket, you can request a trial to put forward your defense and potentially receive a not-guilty plea. You can do this by simply ticking the ‘request a trial’ box on your citation.
As traffic ticket attorneys with over 20 years of experience in traffic violation cases, our team will be on hand to help you understand which of these options is best for your unique case. We’ll also be by your side throughout any court proceedings to increase your chances of a favorable outcome that doesn’t harm your license.
How Kunka Law Fights Traffic Tickets in Maryland
We approach every traffic ticket case with a client-centric, strategic outlook, and will work to understand case intricacies from the moment you get in contact. It’s possible to fight a traffic ticket in a range of different ways, the most common of which include:
- Challenging Police Officer Conduct: It may be possible to challenge a citation based on questionable officer conduct, such as a racial context behind a stop, or the use of excessive force.
- Doubting the Evidence: Sometimes, traffic violations rest on an officer’s testimony that they witnessed the crime. If this was incorrect, it may be possible to throw doubt on that evidence through things like eyewitness testimonies and contrasting accounts.
- Finding Procedural Errors: Procedural errors, such as incorrect citations, can provide grounds to have a traffic ticket waived or dismissed in some cases.
The sooner you get in touch with our team about your traffic ticket, the less likely it is that you’ll face lasting damage to your driver’s license. Simply let us know the details of your case, and we’ll set to work building the strongest defense possible.
Offering Representation Across Glen Burnie, Columbia, and Beyond
If you’re dealing with a traffic ticket in Maryland, you need an attorney with experience in local laws. Luckily, that’s exactly what you’ll get when you contact Kunka Law. We proudly represent clients throughout Maryland and have an extensive understanding of the Maryland point system, as well as the best options for each Maryland traffic violation.
We serve areas including Glen Burnie and Columbia, particularly across Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, and Frederick Counties. Whether you’re facing a speeding ticket in Maryland, or you require help after being caught driving without insurance, you could certainly benefit from bringing our friendly local team onside.
Take the Hassle Out of Your Traffic Ticket
Traffic tickets are an undeniable annoyance, and that fine or court date won’t disappear just because you ignore it. The faster you act in finding a trusted attorney, the less risk you face of license points, suspension, or worse.
So, instead of running the risk of going past your 30-day response period, get in touch with Kunka Law today to see why Matt Kunka is Maryland’s finest trial attorney. Matt Kunka has over 20 years of experience achieving positive outcomes in a wide range of legal matters. Matt Kunka’s extensive expertise in traffic violations is especially notable and includes both payable and must-appear traffic ticket offenses.
Wherever you are in Maryland, Kunka Law’s personable approach will instantly stop you from feeling alone in your plight. Instead, our team will get straight to work collecting the evidence you need to keep your driving license clean.
Get to Know Us With Your Free Consultation
You need to trust the team who defend you, which is why we offer a free initial consultation for every traffic ticket client in Maryland. Here, you’ll be able to tell us all about your case, and see for yourself how we could help you tackle that dreaded ticket! Simply book your consultation to get started today.