Being tied up in traffic is never fun, especially when you’re running late. Residents of Maryland and DC know how common this is on the Beltway. Getting ahead to make up for lost time causes many drivers to forget to check their speed. We’ve seen the results of rear-end collisions on the highway. Very often, drivers who rear end another driver are cited with a failure to control their speed to avoid an accident.

This is a basic rule of Maryland transportation law. Every driver in the state is required to adjust speed to keep from colliding with other drivers. This includes traveling the speed limit. If traffic makes the posted limit too fast for a driver to stop in time, drivers are required to slow down.

Keep in mind, if you are charged with this citation, it doesn’t mean that you were speeding.  It basically means that you allegedly caused an accident by not properly controlling your vehicle (even if you were going the speed limit).

A driver who is found guilty in Maryland of this offense can be fined up to $130 and receive 3 points.

Charged in Maryland for failing to control speed to avoid collison?  Call me at 301-563-9575 BEFORE you go to court or pay any fines.  I’m an experienced Maryland traffic lawyer who would be happy to help.

According to the Maryland MVA:

While you are driving with a provisional license and are less than 18 years of age, the following restrictions apply:

• If you drive between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., you must be accompanied by a qualified supervising driver who is 21 years of age with at least 3 years driving experience unless you are driving:
  • To, from, or during employment;
  • To or from a school class or an official school activity;
  • To or from an organized volunteer program; or
  • To or from participation in an athletic event or related training session.
• For the first 151 days (5 months) that you have the provisional license, you cannot transport passengers less than 18 years of age;
  • Unless accompanied by a qualified supervising driver; or
  • Unless all of the passengers are directly related family members (spouse, daughter/son, step-daughter/step-son, sister/brother, step-sister/step-brother) or other family members who live at the same address.
• You cannot use any wireless communication device (including cell phone) except to make an emergency 911 call.
• All of your passengers must wear proper restraints (e.g., seat belt).

Once you become 18 years of age, these restrictions no longer apply.

Charged with a Maryland traffic violation while holding a provisional license?  Call me at 301-563-9575 BEFORE you go to court or pay any fines.  I’m an experienced Maryland traffic ticket lawyer and I’d be happy to help.

When you drive in Maryland (or any State), you are like a moving target for police.  One wrong move can result in a ticket and an increase in insurance premiums.  There are many lights, signs, markings, etc.. that could get you a ticket if not properly followed.

If you do not obey a “no left turn” sign or you continuously cross the center line of a roadway, these can be considered a violation of a ”traffic control device.”

Most of these violations carry a fine and 1 point.  If a collision occurs, you can receive up to 3 points.

Charged in Maryland for failure to obey a traffic control device?  I can help.  Call me at 301-563-9575 or 1-877-566-2408 BEFORE you go to court or pay any fines.  I’m an experienced Maryland traffic ticket lawyer and I’d be happy to help.

If you do receive a speeding ticket in the state of Maryland, make sure your ticket specifies:

1. The speed at which the defendant is alleged to have driven.
2. If the charge is for exceeding a maximum lawful speed, the maximum speed limit applicable at the location.
3. If the charge is for driving below a minimum lawful speed, the minimum speed limit applicable at the location.

There are many other technical defenses to a Maryland speeding ticket.  I have listed three basic issues.

Need help with a Maryland speeding ticket? Call me at 301-563-9575 or 1-877-566-2408 BEFORE you go to court or pay any fines.  I’m an experienced Maryland traffic lawyer and I’d be happy to help.

We all pass cars on the left from time-to-time, but if you’ve ever passed a car on the right, you may have ended up with a ticket.

According to Maryland traffic law, passing on the right is only permitted if:

“The overtaken vehicle is making or about to make a left turn.”

“On a highway with unobstructed pavement not occupied by parked vehicles and wide enough for two or more lines of vehicles moving lawfully in the same direction as the overtaking vehicle.”

“On any one-way roadway, if the roadway is free from obstruction and wide enough for two or more lines of moving vehicles.”

Aside from these exceptions, the conditions of the road on the right side must be safe and the overtaking car may not drive off the roadway in order to pass. If you are unsure of whether or not you should pass on the right, don’t do it.

Need help with a Maryland traffic ticket?  Call me at 301-563-9575 or 1-877-566-2408 BEFORE  you go to court or pay any fines.  I’m an experienced Maryland traffic lawyer and am happy to help you.

It’s important to know that there are options when it comes to paying a traffic citation fine.  Here are  your three option when it comes to handling your Maryland traffic ticket and paying your fines.

A. Plead guilty and pay the fine shown on your citation. Your fine should not exceed a maximum of $500. Keep in mind that this will go on your driving record and may give you points, which can increase your insurance premiums. Just paying the traffic fine is the same as pleading guilty to the offense.

B. Request a waiver hearing to plead “guilty with an explanation.” You must do this within 30 days of receiving your citation. With this option you can try to have the fine reduced, waived, or you may ask for probation instead of conviction. During the hearing, you must give your explanation to the judge (it’s not a trial so the officer who cited you will not be in attendance). The judge can lower your fine or keep it the same. Remember the judge may also increase the fine—up the maximum amount of $500. You may appeal the judge’s decision if found guilty, but there will be extra court costs to continuing fighting the citation.

C. Request a trial.  Make sure to request your trial within 30 days of receiving your citation. It could take several weeks for a trial to be scheduled. If it takes more than six weeks, contact the District Court of the county you were cited in. At the trial, the officer who cited you will testify and you will also present your case.  After the judge makes a decision, you have 30 days to appeal. There will be court costs when an appeal is filed.

Need help deciding how to handle your Maryland traffic citation?  Call me at 301-563-9575 or 1-877-566-2408 BEFORE you go to court or pay any fines.  I’m an experienced Maryland traffic attorney who handles cases throughout the State of Maryland.  I’d be happy to help you.

Have you been referred to a Driver Improvement Program but aren’t sure why? There are many reasons why you may end up in this situation and it’s nothing to stress out about.

Why you have to take the program

If you’ve received 5 to 7 points on your driving record, obtained a conviction or ”PBJ” for a moving violation while holding a provisional driver’s license, or have been referred by a District Court Judge or Administrative Law Judge, you may have to take part in this program.

You will receive a letter in four to six weeks after your hearing if you have been referred to this program by a judge.

Where to find the programs

If you are over 18 years, you may take the program online or in a classroom. If you are under 18, you must take the program in the classroom.

Look over the list of providers for fees and program information.

Don’t sweat it! This program is only four to eight hours. When you’ve successfully completed the course, you will receive a certificate. The fee for the program depends on each individual program provider.

If you’ve been referred to a driver improvement program and need help, call me at 301-563-9575 or 1-877-566-2408.  I’m an experienced Maryland traffic ticket lawyer who handles Maryland traffic ticket throughout the entire State.

When a traffic light goes dark, the conventional wisdom is to treat it like a four-way stop. This can be confusing. Until recently, Maryland had never spelled out what to do in the Transportation Article. Right-of-way passes to the right. This includes vehicles in turning lanes but these vehicles should yield to oncoming traffic. Let the cars in the straight-away go first. All motorists should stop behind the crosswalk as you would at any stop. Yield to pedestrians.

In October 2012, Maryland passed law clearly stating that failure to stop at a non-functioning signal is a violation. The fine for the violation alone is $90 with 2 points on your license. Causing an accident increases the fine to $130 with 3 points. Thankfully, many traffic signals now have battery back-ups. They may keep functioning through a blackout or have enough power to flash yellow.

Charged with a Maryland traffic ticket?  Call my office at 301-563-9575 before you go to court or pay any tickets.  I’m an experienced Maryland Traffic ticket lawyer and I’d be happy to help.

I have personally handled dozens of speeding tickets on the ICC and have always been suprised at the speed limit.  If you’ve ever driven on the ICC, you probably noticed the lack of traffic.  Therefore, its very tempting to zoom by well above the speed limit.

7000 tickets have been issued since February 2011.  200 of these were to drivers traveling between 55 and 65 mph. 16 tickets were issued to other drivers going 100 mph or more. One driver was cited for traveling 140 mph. That ticket was challenged but the driver was found guilty in court. About a half-dozen motorists were ticketed for going below 60.

The speed limit on the ICC will likely not go any higher. The MTA says the road was designed for 60. They took two years to determine that 60 was safe. It looks like Maryland drivers are stuck with 60 mph on the ICC whether they like it or not. There’s no reason to assume police are going to be any less eager now to hand out tickets.

Keep in mind, the ICC isn’t done yet. Final phases of construction linking the ICC to US 1 and collector lanes to I-95 are planned to finish in 2014. So don’t let the new limit fool you. Exceeding highway work zone speed limits in Maryland can mean a $290 fine and 1 point. The fine increases to $330 and 3 points if a collision occurs.

Need help with a traffic ticket in Montgomery County?  I’m happy to help. Please call my office at 301-563-9575 or 1-877-566-2408 BEFORE you go to court or pay any tickets.

Frederick County, Maryland began installing cameras on its school buses in 2012. These are stepped-up versions of a speed camera. Multiple photos are edited together creating a video of any car entering and exiting a bus safety zone.

Citations issued on photographic evidence are $125. This is less than citations issued by a police officer: $570 fine and 3 points.

Keep in mind drivers must remain stopped until that stop sign swings back and the warning lights go out. After waiting a few minutes with no one exiting the bus, it’s tempting to drive off – especially if you’re late. Failure to remain stopped can get you a $570 citation and points on your license. If an accident occurs, that’s $610 and 3 points on top of possible liability for any collision or injury.

Need help with a Maryland traffic ticket?  Call me at 301-563-9575 or 1-877-566-2408.  I’m an experienced Maryland traffic lawyer who handles every type of traffic case in Maryland.  Call me for a free consultation, I’d be happy to hear from you.