To legally drive in Maryland, an aspiring motorist needs to secure a driver’s license. They need to register and insure the vehicle that they intend to drive. They also need to consistently comply with traffic laws while on public roads.
If a driver violates traffic statutes, the state can penalize them for that choice. There is a centralized state record of traffic violations that can affect someone’s driving privileges and personal costs in Maryland. What do drivers need to know about state driving records?
The state tracks total points accumulated
There are dozens of ways for people to violate traffic laws, and each of them comes with a different degree of risk. The state has given officers the right to issue tickets with varying fines. Those tickets also add points to someone’s driver’s license.
For example, someone with a disability parking placard that they hang from the rearview mirror has to remove that signage before they drive on public roads. The failure to do so can lead to a ticket worth $70 and one point on their driving record.
Speeding can lead to anywhere from one to five points to someone’s license. The excess speed and whether or not the incident causes a crash determines the number of points added to someone’s license and the fine that they must pay. Parking violations are among the most common citations issued in Maryland, but they do not add any points to someone’s record.
Once a Maryland driver has accrued between eight and 11 points, the state sends automatic notice of a license suspension. Anyone with 12 or more points faces the revocation of their license. Some violations, such as fraudulent misrepresentation when securing a license and drunk driving, automatically lead to 12 points on someone’s license.
How can people respond to points?
Drivers with multiple points on their records receive formal notice of suspension or revocation before the penalty takes effect. They can request a hearing if they respond within 15 days of the state issuing the notice. At that hearing, they can potentially fight to retain their driving privileges. Motorists do have the right to have a lawyer represent them in court. Drivers can avoid the suspension or revocation of their licenses by attending traffic court.
They can also avoid accumulating points by fighting individual tickets after receiving a citation. In some cases, motorists can also request point expungement. Those who request point removal after completing a driver improvement course may have a better chance of prevailing.
Instead of simply paying a ticket and hoping for the best, drivers may benefit from fighting against allegations that they violated Maryland traffic statutes. Avoiding point accumulation and seeking to remove existing points can help people retain their driver’s licenses and keep their insurance costs reasonable.