Quick answer: Reckless driving in Prince George’s County is a criminal misdemeanor under Md. Code, Transp. § 21-901.1(a) — not a payable ticket. It carries a mandatory court date, 6 points on your Maryland record, and up to 60 days in jail plus a $1,000 fine. Since the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act took effect October 1, 2025, driving 30 mph or more over the limit is automatically reckless. A Prince George’s County reckless driving lawyer can often get the charge reduced to negligent driving or resolved with probation before judgment so you avoid the points and the conviction.
I’m David Waranch, and I’ve handled thousands of Maryland traffic cases, including reckless driving charges in the District and Circuit Courts in Upper Marlboro and the District Court in Hyattsville. Here’s what the charge really means and how it gets defended.
What Counts as Reckless Driving in Prince George’s County?
Maryland law gives officers two ways to charge reckless driving. Under Transp. § 21-901.1(a), you commit the offense if you drive in wanton or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property — or, now, if you drive at least 30 mph above the posted limit. That second trigger is new. The Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act made 30-over automatic reckless driving as of October 1, 2025, and Prince George’s County, with its high-volume commuter corridors, has seen more of these charges since.
The “wanton or willful disregard” standard is broad, and that cuts both ways. Officers on I-495, I-95, US-301, MD-210, or the Baltimore-Washington Parkway often charge reckless driving on their own read of the situation — weaving, tailgating, forcing another driver to brake hard, blowing through a signal. Broad language means the State has to prove the conduct actually rose to the level of “reckless,” and a good chunk of these cases can be pushed back on. A charge is not a conviction.
Reckless driving is often confused with two related charges. It helps to see all three side by side, because the difference in points and court exposure is large. For a fuller breakdown, see the difference between reckless and aggressive driving in Maryland.
What Are the Penalties for Reckless Driving in Prince George’s County?
A reckless driving conviction carries 6 points and up to 60 days in jail plus a fine of up to $1,000. Because it is a must-appear misdemeanor, there is no option to prepay and be done — you or your attorney has to show up in court. The table compares reckless with the two charges it is most often measured against.
| Charge | Statute | Points | Maximum penalty | Ticket type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reckless driving | § 21-901.1(a) | 6 | 60 days jail / $1,000 | Must appear |
| Aggressive driving | § 21-901.2 | 5 | $1,000 (3+ of 19 listed offenses) | Must appear |
| Negligent driving | § 21-901.1(b) | 2 | $750 (preset fine $350) | Payable |
Negligent driving is the charge your lawyer is usually aiming for. It is the lesser offense — careless, but not the wanton or willful conduct reckless requires — and it is payable, with a $350 preset fine and only 2 points. But payable does not mean harmless, and you should not simply mail in the fine.
Don’t just pay a negligent driving fine. Paying the $350 preset is a guilty plea and puts a conviction with 2 points on your record. Requesting a waiver hearing or a trial costs nothing to ask for and keeps a non-conviction outcome on the table — including probation before judgment under Crim. Proc. § 6-220, which is foreclosed the moment you pay. The trade-off: at a hearing or trial the fine can be raised, up to a maximum of $500. That is usually a chance worth taking to keep your record clean.
Beyond points and fines, a reckless conviction can push your auto insurance up sharply and, for CDL holders, threaten your livelihood. Points also stack toward MVA action — at 8 points your license can be suspended and at 12 revoked. See how the math works on the Maryland point system page, and why must-appear tickets differ from payable ones.
Which Prince George’s County Court Will Hear My Case?
Most reckless driving cases in the county start in the District Court. The main courthouse sits in Upper Marlboro, the county seat, and there is also a District Court location in Hyattsville that handles matters from the central and northern parts of the county. If you request a jury trial, or the case is appealed from the District Court, it moves to the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County in Upper Marlboro.
Where you were stopped usually points to which court you’ll face. Charges written on the Beltway (I-495/I-95), US-301, MD-210 toward the Potomac, or the BW Parkway all funnel into the county’s District Court system. Knowing how PG County judges tend to treat high-speed and Kepp 30-over cases matters when you decide whether to negotiate or take a case to trial. If your charge is broader than reckless alone, the Prince George’s County traffic lawyer page covers the full range of citations we handle locally.
How Do You Defend a Reckless Driving Charge?
There is no single script, because these cases turn on facts. But a few strategies come up again and again:
- Attack the stop. If the officer lacked a lawful reason to pull you over, the evidence that followed can be challenged.
- Test the speed evidence. Radar, lidar, and pacing all have calibration, training, and procedure requirements. On a Kepp 30-over case the exact speed is the whole charge, so the measurement gets close scrutiny.
- Argue the conduct wasn’t “reckless.” The State must prove wanton or willful disregard. Ordinary bad driving, or a genuine emergency, may not meet that bar.
- Reduce to negligent driving. Trading a 6-point misdemeanor for a 2-point payable offense is a common and realistic outcome.
- Seek probation before judgment. Unlike DUI, reckless driving has no 10-year PBJ bar under Crim. Proc. § 6-220. A completed PBJ is not a conviction, so it carries no points.
- Present mitigation. A clean record, a driver-improvement course, and employment or CDL needs can move a judge or prosecutor.
If you’re worried specifically about incarceration, jail is uncommon for a first offense with no crash — but the risk is real and rises with speed, priors, and any accident. I walk through that in detail on will I go to jail for reckless driving in Maryland. If your case is really about a very high speed, the speeding penalties by speed range page shows where the 30-over line now sits.
“A person is guilty of reckless driving if the person drives a motor vehicle: (1) In wanton or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property; (2) In a manner that indicates a wanton or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property; or (3) At a speed at least 30 miles per hour above the posted speed limit.” — Md. Code, Transp. § 21-901.1(a)
The full text is on the state site: Md. Code, Transp. § 21-901.1, the aggressive driving statute at § 21-901.2, and the point schedule at § 16-402. If you’re weighing whether a negligent outcome is really the win it sounds like, read why a negligent driving charge isn’t as bad as it sounds.
Prince George’s County Reckless Driving FAQ
Yes. Reckless driving under Transp. 21-901.1(a) is a criminal misdemeanor, not a payable ticket. It is must-appear, carries 6 points, and exposes you to up to 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Yes. Since the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act took effect on October 1, 2025, driving at least 30 mph above the posted speed limit is reckless driving on its own, without any other dangerous conduct.
Yes, reckless driving is a must-appear charge, so it cannot be prepaid. In many cases your attorney can appear for you, but the case has to be handled in the District Court in Upper Marlboro or Hyattsville rather than paid by mail.
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. § 21-901.1, § 21-901.2, § 16-402; Md. Code, 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.