Maryland speeding ticket penalties scale with how far over the posted limit the officer measured you. A 1-9 mph violation is 1 point and a relatively small fine. 10-29 mph over is 2 points and a larger fine. 30 mph or more over is no longer a speeding ticket at all — under the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act, effective October 1, 2025, it is reckless driving: must-appear, 6 points, up to $1,000 fine, and up to 60 days in jail. Work zones, school zones, and accident-causing speeding all carry significant enhancements.
The fine on a Maryland speeding ticket is usually the smallest cost. Points, insurance, and the cumulative effect on your MVA record matter more in the long run. This breakdown covers what each tier actually costs.
The Maryland Speeding Penalty Schedule at a Glance
| Speed Over Limit | MVA Points | Fine Range | Court Appearance | Charge Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 9 mph over | 1 | $80 – $90 | Payable (optional) | Standard speeding |
| 10 to 19 mph over | 2 | $160 | Payable (optional) | Standard speeding |
| 20 to 29 mph over | 2 | $290 | Payable (optional) | Standard speeding |
| 30 mph or more over | 6 | Up to $1,000 | Must appear (criminal) | Reckless driving (§ 21-901.1(a)) |
| Any speed (contributing to accident) | 3 | Varies | Usually must appear | Speeding contributing to accident |
| Work zone (workers present) | +1 enhancement | Doubled fines | Often must appear | Work zone speeding (§ 21-803.1) |
| School zone during school hours | +1 enhancement | Enhanced fines | Often must appear | School zone speeding |
1 to 9 mph Over: The Lightest Tier
A 1-9 mph violation is the lowest-tier speeding offense in Maryland. The fine is small (typically around $80-$90 plus court costs), the point hit is 1, and the ticket is payable — meaning you can prepay the fine and avoid appearing in court. For a driver with a clean record and no upcoming insurance renewal, this is often the tier where prepaying is reasonable, though even a 1-point conviction can produce a modest premium increase.
Whether to fight a low-tier ticket depends on the driver’s overall record. A driver already sitting at 3 or 4 points should think harder about contesting it — the 1-point addition could push them past the 5-point Driver Improvement Program threshold.
10 to 19 mph Over: The Most Common Tier
This is the speeding range most drivers actually see. The fine roughly doubles to around $160, the point assessment goes to 2, and the ticket remains payable. The 2-point hit is where insurance impact becomes more pronounced — most insurers treat a 2-point conviction as a meaningful risk signal, particularly for younger drivers or drivers with prior violations.
A Probation Before Judgment under Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure § 6-220 generally avoids the MVA points on a 10-19 mph speeding case, which is why many drivers in this range contest the ticket rather than prepay. See whether fighting a Maryland speeding ticket is worth it for the full analysis.
20 to 29 mph Over: Larger Fines, Same Points
The fine jumps significantly in this tier — typically around $290 — but the points stay at 2. The ticket is still payable in many cases, though some jurisdictions and circumstances elevate it to must-appear status. Drivers at the upper end of this range (27, 28, 29 mph over) are within striking distance of the new 30+ mph reckless driving threshold under the Kepp Act, and any dispute about the measured speed becomes consequential.
Insurance impact in this tier is more substantial than the 10-19 mph range, even though the points are technically the same. Insurers often weight the speed differential, not just the point count, when setting premiums.
30 mph or More Over: Now Reckless Driving
This is the most important shift in Maryland speeding law in years. Before the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act took effect October 1, 2025, driving 30+ mph over the limit was a high-tier speeding ticket — significant fine, more points, but still in the speeding framework. After October 1, 2025, it is automatically charged as reckless driving under Md. Code, Transp. § 21-901.1(a):
- 6 MVA points (the highest available for a speeding-based offense);
- Up to 60 days in jail;
- Up to a $1,000 fine;
- Must-appear status — no prepay, you will see a judge;
- Substantial insurance exposure, including potential policy non-renewal; and
- CDL disqualification exposure for commercial drivers.
If your citation lists a speed 30 or more above the posted limit, you are not dealing with a speeding ticket in any practical sense. You are dealing with a criminal traffic case. See our guide to jail exposure in Maryland reckless driving cases and our breakdown of how reckless, aggressive, and negligent driving differ.
Speeding That Contributes to an Accident
If the officer determines the speeding caused or contributed to an accident, the point assessment increases to 3 — regardless of the speed differential. A 12 mph speeding violation that would normally be 2 points becomes 3 points if it caused a crash. The case usually becomes must-appear, and the State will often consider additional charges (negligent driving, reckless driving, failure to control speed to avoid collision) depending on the facts.
Speeding-related accident cases also frequently involve civil exposure separate from the criminal or traffic case. The conviction can be admitted as evidence in any related personal injury or property damage lawsuit.
Work Zone and School Zone Enhancements
Maryland has expanded enforcement in work zones and school zones over the last several years, both through officer detail assignments and through automated camera enforcement.
Work zones. Under Md. Code, Transp. § 21-803.1, fines for speeding in a marked work zone are enhanced — often doubled — and additional fines apply when workers are present. The point enhancement is +1 over the base speeding assessment. A 10 mph over the limit violation in a work zone with workers present becomes a 3-point offense rather than 2 points, with a fine that can exceed $500.
School zones. Speeding in a marked school zone during posted school hours triggers similar enhancements. Many school zones in Maryland are also subject to automated speed enforcement under Md. Code, Transp. § 21-809, which operates differently from officer-issued tickets.
Speed Camera Tickets: A Different Category
Automated speed camera tickets in Maryland work zones and school zones operate under their own statutory framework. They typically do not carry MVA points because the State cannot prove who was driving — only that the registered vehicle exceeded the limit. The fine still applies (currently $40 for most speed camera violations), and ignoring the ticket can lead to MVA registration holds.
The trade-off is real: no points, but also fewer practical defenses. Speed camera tickets are not adjudicated in the same way as officer-issued citations, and the standard speed-measurement defenses (radar calibration, officer training) generally do not apply.
The Long-Term Cost: Insurance, License, Employment
The published fine is rarely the most expensive part of a Maryland speeding ticket. Three downstream costs usually matter more:
Insurance. A speeding conviction can drive premium increases that last three years or longer. The exact amount varies by carrier, tier, and driver profile, but a single 2-point conviction can easily produce a multi-hundred-dollar annual increase — and that compounds over the surcharge period.
License. Cumulative points trigger MVA action. Five points means a mandatory Driver Improvement Program. Eight points means suspension proceedings. A single ticket may not push you across the threshold, but the cumulative effect of multiple tickets does. See Maryland’s point system in a nutshell for the full picture.
Employment. CDL holders, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, and anyone whose job depends on a clean MVA record can face employment consequences from speeding convictions that would be financially manageable for other drivers. For commercial drivers, see how Maryland traffic offenses affect a CDL.
How a PBJ Changes the Math
A Probation Before Judgment, granted under Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure § 6-220, withholds the conviction. In most speeding cases that means no MVA points and a substantially reduced insurance impact. PBJ is not automatic — the judge has to grant it, and certain conditions usually apply (often a fine and a short probationary period). But for drivers near point thresholds or in tight insurance tiers, a PBJ can be worth significantly more than the fine itself.
For broader context on how these penalties fit into Maryland traffic law, see the complete Maryland speeding, reckless, and aggressive driving guide.
Related Questions
- How many points is a Maryland speeding ticket? — Full Maryland point schedule and what triggers MVA action.
- Can you fight a Maryland speeding ticket in court? — Real defenses and what winning actually means.
- What happens if you ignore a Maryland speeding ticket? — Convictions, bench warrants, MVA holds.
- Will I go to jail for reckless driving in Maryland? — Jail exposure under the Kepp Act.
- Maryland’s point system in a nutshell — How points stack and when the MVA acts.
The Fine Isn’t the Real Cost — Talk to a Lawyer Before You Pay
Maryland speeding ticket penalties extend well beyond the citation amount. Points stay on your MVA record for two years. Insurance increases often last three. A 30+ mph violation is now criminal under the Kepp Act and carries jail exposure. Before you accept the penalty by paying or pleading guilty, find out whether a Probation Before Judgment or charge reduction is realistic in your case.
Toll-free: 1-877-566-2408. For the broader picture, see the complete Maryland speeding, reckless, and aggressive driving guide.
Last updated: May 26, 2026.