Penalties for Driving on a Suspended or Revoked License
Driving on a suspended or revoked license in Maryland is no small matter and could result in mindboggling increases in insurance premiums, a loss of your driving privileges, significant fines and even jail time. The following are the most commonly charged driving while suspended and driving while revoked traffic citations in Maryland:
Driving on a Suspended License (Failure to Appear/Failure to Pay Fines)
According to Maryland Transportation Article § 27-101, driving on a suspended license in Maryland under M.T.A § 16-303(h) is punishable by 60 days in a jail, a $500 fine and up to 3 points on your driving record. While it is extremely unlikely that a first time offender would be sent to jail, a lengthy jail sentence is a real possibility for a repeat offender who continues to drive on a suspended or revoked Maryland license.
The State is required to prove that your Maryland driver’s license was suspended for either failing to appear for a court date or failing to pay a fine to the court after being found guilty or admitting guilt to a criminal or traffic offense.
Driving on a Suspended License
According to Maryland Transportation Article § 27-101, driving on a suspended license in Maryland under M.T.A § 16-303(c) is far more serious than in the previously mentioned section. An infraction in this section is punishable by up to 12 months of jail, a $1,000 fine and up to 12 points on your driving record. All the State’s Attorney is required to prove is that your license was suspended for anything other than failing to appear in court or failing to pay a fine to the court.
These other reasons can include the following:
- License suspended for excessive points;
- License suspended for failure to pay child support; or
- License suspended for failure to attend driver improvement program.
Driving on a Revoked License
According to Maryland Transportation Article § 27-101, driving on a suspended license in Maryland under M.T.A § 16-303(d) carries a maximum penalty of up to 12 months in jail, a $1,000 fine and up to 12 points on your driving record. The state is required to prove that, when you were stopped, your license was revoked by the MVA for an appropriate reason. A driving while revoked conviction can have a far longer lasting effect on your driving record than a driving suspended conviction because it lengthens the amount of time you will be denied the privilege to drive in Maryland by adding additional points to your driving record.
Driving on Out of State Suspended or Revoked License
According to Maryland Transportation Article § 27-101, driving on an out of state suspended or revoked license requires the same proof as driving on a suspended or revoked license in the state. The only real difference is that Maryland must produce evidence of the out of state suspension. Usually this means the state must produce a certified copy of the out of state driving record that demonstrates the suspension and makes clear the trouble was not cleared up prior to the date the Maryland offense occurred.
Need help with a Maryland traffic ticket? Call me at 301-563-9575 or 1-877-566-2408 for a free consultation. I’m an experienced Maryland traffic ticket lawyer and I’d be happy to help. I practice traffic law throughout the entire State of Maryland.
