Quick answer: If you were ticketed in Anne Arundel County, your case is heard in the District Court of Maryland in Annapolis or Glen Burnie, depending on where the citation was written. Most speeding and minor tickets are payable, but paying is a guilty plea that puts points on your record. Serious charges — DUI, reckless driving, driving while suspended — are must-appear, and a lawyer can often appear for you and work toward a reduction or a probation before judgment so nothing lands on your license.
I’m David Waranch, and I’ve handled thousands of Maryland traffic cases. As an Anne Arundel County traffic lawyer, I defend drivers ticketed on Route 50 heading to the Bay Bridge, along I-97, on Ritchie Highway, and at local stops from Severna Park to Edgewater. My job is to read your citation, tell you honestly what it puts at risk, and find the resolution that keeps your record and your driving privileges intact. For the statewide picture, my Maryland traffic violation guide covers the framework behind every charge below.
Which Anne Arundel County Court Hears My Traffic Case?
You appear at whichever District Court is printed on your citation. Anne Arundel County has two locations, and the county seat is Annapolis:
- District Court in Annapolis — the Robert F. Sweeney District Court Building on Rowe Boulevard, just off Route 50 in the state capital. It handles citations from the central and southern county, including Annapolis, Arnold, Crofton, and Edgewater.
- District Court in Glen Burnie — on Governor Ritchie Highway near I-97 and the Baltimore Beltway, on the north end of the county. It handles the Glen Burnie, Pasadena, Severna Park, and BWI-area tickets.
The District Court handles traffic violations, misdemeanors, and some felonies, and it does not hold jury trials. If your case qualifies for a jury trial, it moves to the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County at Church Circle in downtown Annapolis. I appear in both District Court locations regularly and can tell you exactly what to expect at the courthouse on your ticket. In many matters, under Md. Code, Transp. § 26-204, I can appear on your behalf so you don’t miss work.
Payable Ticket or Must-Appear? Know Before You Pay
Not every citation carries a court date. A payable offense — most speeding tickets, stop-sign violations, and improper turns — lets you prepay the fine. But in Maryland, prepaying is a guilty plea that becomes a conviction and adds points. A must-appear citation, such as DUI, reckless driving, or a suspended-license charge, requires you to stand before a judge. Knowing which one you’re holding changes your whole strategy; my page on payable vs. must-appear tickets breaks down the difference.
| Charge | Statute | Status | MVA points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to obey a traffic control device | § 21-201 | Payable (about $90) | 1 |
| Following too closely | § 21-310 | Payable (about $110) | 2 |
| Negligent driving | § 21-901.1(b) | Payable (about $350) | 2 |
| Reckless driving (incl. 30+ mph over) | § 21-901.1(a) | Must appear | 6 |
| Driving while suspended | § 16-303 | Must appear | 3 |
| DUI | § 21-902(a) | Must appear | 12 |
Paying the fine is not the easy way out. Prepaying a Maryland ticket is a guilty plea that becomes a conviction and puts points on your record. Requesting a waiver hearing or a trial costs nothing extra to ask for and keeps a non-conviction disposition open — including probation before judgment under Crim. Proc. § 6-220, which carries no points and is foreclosed the moment you pay. Be aware that at a hearing or trial a judge can raise the fine, up to a maximum of $500, so treat it as a trade-off worth discussing first.
Route 50, the Bay Bridge, and High-Speed Stops
The US-50/301 corridor toward the Bay Bridge is one of the most heavily enforced stretches in the state, especially on summer weekends when beach traffic surges. High-speed stops, aggressive driving, and DUI charges are the cases that come off that corridor most often, and they are the ones that actually threaten your license. I-97, MD-100, and Ritchie Highway (MD-2) see the same pattern on the north end.
Maryland has raised the stakes on speed. Under the 2025 Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act, reckless driving now includes traveling at least 30 mph over the posted limit. On a route like US-50, that turns what feels like “just speeding” into a must-appear charge carrying 6 points and possible jail exposure — so it’s worth understanding exactly what you’ve been charged with before you respond. My reckless driving defense page explains how these cases are fought.
How Points Threaten Your Anne Arundel County License
Points are cumulative, and they trigger MVA action on a sliding scale. Within any two-year window, 3 points brings a warning letter, 5 points can require a driver improvement program, 8 points means a suspension, and 12 points means revocation. A single DUI at 12 points can revoke your license outright. That’s why keeping a conviction off your record — through a reduction, a dismissal, or a probation before judgment — matters far more than the size of the fine. My guide to Maryland’s point system lays out how each charge is scored.
Ticketed While Passing Through the County?
Because so much traffic crosses Anne Arundel County on the way to the Bay Bridge and the beaches, many of the drivers I help don’t live here. The common worry is having to drive back for court. In many cases I can appear in Annapolis or Glen Burnie for you, so you don’t have to return to Maryland. It’s worth a short conversation before you pay online, because a Maryland conviction is reported to your home state under the Driver License Compact, and other states often add their own points once it lands on your record.
Traffic Charges I Handle Across the County
I represent drivers charged with speeding, failure to obey traffic control devices, negligent and reckless driving, driving while suspended or revoked, driving without insurance, DUI/DWI, hit-and-run, and CDL violations. Even a seemingly minor violation can affect employment, professional licenses, and commercial driving privileges. Many of these charges are defensible — improper speed detection, unclear signage, officer errors, and procedural gaps can all support a reduction or dismissal.
If you already have a serious matter pending, my Anne Arundel County DUI defense page covers those cases in depth. Miss a court date and you may face a warrant — my bench warrant page explains how to clear one. And if you already have an old conviction dragging on your record, ask about expungement.
Communities I Serve in Anne Arundel County
I represent drivers in Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Severna Park, Pasadena, Odenton, Crofton, Arnold, Edgewater, and the surrounding communities — at both Anne Arundel County District Court locations. Whether your citation came from a traffic stop on I-97, a speed check on US-50, or a local stop on Ritchie Highway, I handle cases countywide. You work directly with me at every stage, not a case handler.
It depends on where the citation was issued. You appear at whichever District Court is printed on your ticket: the Annapolis location on Rowe Boulevard for the central and southern county, or the Glen Burnie location on Governor Ritchie Highway near I-97 for the north end. Cases that qualify for a jury trial move to the Circuit Court in Annapolis.
Yes. Under the 2025 Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act, reckless driving now includes traveling at least 30 mph over the posted limit. On a high-speed route like US-50, a fast stop can become a must-appear charge carrying 6 points and possible jail exposure, so it should not be treated like an ordinary speeding ticket.
Often, no. In many cases I can appear in Annapolis or Glen Burnie on your behalf so you do not have to travel back. It is worth talking before you pay, since paying counts as a conviction in Maryland and is reported to your home state, where it may add points.
Law Offices of David R. Waranch — 301-563-9575 · toll-free 1-877-566-2408. Hablamos Español.
Last updated: August 2026. Statutory references: Md. Code, Transp. §§ 16-303, 21-201, 21-310, 21-901.1, 21-902, 26-204; Crim. Proc. § 6-220. This page is general information about Maryland law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.