If you choose to plead guilty, by paying the fine noted on the front of your citation, the charge will become part of your driving record.
You have four options when confronted with a payable traffic citation (1) paying the fine, (2) requesting to enter into a payment plan (3) pleading “guilty with an explanation” and appearing for a waiver hearing or (4) requesting a trial date and appearing for trial. Payable traffic violations are not punishable by jail time.Īlways read the Notice to Defendant information carefully and make sure your name and address are correct. You have a payable violation when the officer checks the second box under “Notice to Appear” on your handwritten citation or the " Payable Fine" box on the electronic version. Payable traffic violations for example, a speeding ticket or failing to stop for a school bus, are those you may choose to plead “guilty” to and pay a fine without appearing in court. For more information about “must appear” traffic offenses, contact the District Court location nearest you or the District Court Traffic Processing Center via Telephone: 1-80 or 41.
Drivers who receive "Must Appear" citations or have payable citations included with a "Must Appear" citation, will continue to receive automatic trial date notices. “Must appear” violations, such as driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or driving on a suspended license are not covered in this fact sheet. There are two types of traffic violations in Maryland, "payable" and “ must appear". If the citation was issued electronically, the officer prints you a copy from the officer's patrol car. When you are charged with a payable traffic offense, the officer will give you two copies of the handwritten version of the traffic citation. Traffic Citations - Handwritten and Electronic Traffic citations in the State of MD are issued in one of two different ways - a handwritten version or an electronic version. DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE FOR WHICH YOU COULD BE INCARCERATED. If you fail to comply with one of the four options WITHIN 30 DAYS after receipt of a payable traffic citation, the Motor Vehicle Administration will be notified and may take action to suspend your driver's license. In order to receive a payment plan, trial date or a waiver hearing date, you must complete and return your option form to:
Mail the ticket to the District Court Traffic Processing Center.Check the "Request a Waiver Hearing" box on the ticket.Option C: Ask for a waiver hearing to plead "guilty with an explanation" Check "request a Payment Plan" for each violation in which a payment plan is requested, sign, date at the bottom of the ticket and mail the form within 30 days to the address shown as soon as possible.
Option B: Request to enter into a payment plan under § 7–504.1 of the Courts Article, if you have at least $150 in total outstanding fines and are otherwise qualified to enter into a payment plan. Pay using the Maryland Uniform Traffic Citation Payment Kiosk at your local Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) office.Pay in person at any local District Court.
Option A: Pay the full fine and plead "guilty" Traffic Violation(s) Payment Plan NoticeĪ person who receives a payable traffic citation must comply with the citation by completing one of the following options within 30 days after receipt of the citation:.Red Light, Speed Monitoring, School Bus Monitoring, and Electronic Toll Citations.Requesting a Trial Date - Requires appearance in Court.