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Understanding Maryland Traffic Violations and Strategies for Defense

On Behalf of | Apr 1, 2017 | Criminal Law

Fighting a traffic ticket can be challenging, but it is not impossible and can be well worth your time in serious instances. Here, the attorneys at Snee, Lutche, Helmlinger, and Spielberger outline several defense strategies to fight traffic tickets.

Becoming acquainted with Maryland traffic laws and penalties is the first step to preparing an effective defense against a traffic ticket. Traffic violation fines and penalties are consistent throughout the state of Maryland. A fine is an exact amount one must pay for a violation, while a penalty can be points applied to a license, revocation of a license, or even jail time in the case of the most severe charges.

The Point System

The Maryland point system assigns a different number of penalty points to violations, but all points remain on a person’s record for two years. The current point penalties are as follows:

  • Driving on a suspended license, 3 points or 12 points
  • DUI, 12 points
  • DWI, 8 points
  • Failing to remain at the scene of an accident, 8 points
  • Failing to stop at a red light, 2 points
  • Failing to stop for flashing school bus, 3 points
  • Improper passing, 1 point
  • Failure to yield right-of-way, 1 point
  • Improper U-turn, 1 point

Accruing a certain number of points will cause administrative actions to be taken by the MVA:

  • 3 to 4 points within a span of 2 years: receive a warning letter from the MVA
  • 5 to 7 points within a span of 2 years: required enrollment in a Driver Improvement Program (DIP)
  • 8 to 11 points within a span of 2 years: suspension of driver’s license
  • 12 points or more: revocation of driver’s license

By fighting a traffic ticket in court, a defendant can prevent points from being assessed against their driving record, consequently avoiding the administrative penalties for those points.

A well-qualified attorney will do all in their power to fight against a traffic violation. For more information, or to speak with an attorney regarding your case, contact Laura Bechtel at SLH. P.A.

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