New Law Affects Court Process for Traffic Violators

A new Maryland state law will change the way drivers handle speeding tickets, and will alter District Court procedures by instating a mandatory request process for trial appearances.

Effective on January 1, drivers who receive a payable traffic ticket will not be given an automatic trial date. Instead, drivers will have a choice of three options that must be acted upon within 30 days.  

Traffic violators will be permitted to pay the full amount, ask the District Court for a waiver hearing for sentencing instead of a trial, or ask for a trial date with the District Court.

"Must Appear" offenses, such as driving while under the influence of alcohol of drugs, will not be affected by the new law.

For those who opt to pay the fine, current avenues for payment will remain available, such as mail or online by credit card.

If traffic violators wish to plead guilty with an explanation, they must contact the District Court and request a waiver hearing, allowing the ticketed driver an appearance with the judge before sentencing.

For those wishing to dispute their traffic ticket, a formal trial date must be requested, where drivers and witnesses are summoned to the court. The officer who wrote the ticket will also be present at the trial.

After January 1, tickets will include instructions on how to choose from the three new options as well as a designated area for selecting said option.

For more information, or to view the press release from the AACPD, visit here.