TRAFFIC DEFENSE

Getting pulled over by the police and issued a traffic citation can be a frustrating, confusing, and potentially scary situation. Some offenses–such as Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI), Driving While Impaired (DWI), Driving on a Suspended License and Driving without a License–are “must appear” offenses where the defendant has to go to court and faces a maximum penalty of jail time. Even minor traffic tickets such as speeding can have major ramifications on your insurance or your ability to keep your license to drive in Maryland. No matter how serious or insignificant your Maryland traffic citations may seem, it is always beneficial to consult with an attorney on how to proceed.

My office deals with all types of Maryland traffic citations and has helped many folks in your same situation resolve these issues and move on. Here are some of the types of traffic offenses our office handles:

 

If you find yourself facing one or more traffic citations, do not panic. Call my office anytime at 301-875-3472. I can help you make sense of it for you, protect your rights and potentially your driving record.

  • Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
  • Driving While Impaired
  • Driving on a Suspended License
  • Driving Without a License
  • Reckless Driving
  • Negligent Driving
  • Aggressive Driving
  • Driving Without Insurance
  • Speeding
  • Any other moving violation (Failure to Stop at Signal, Failure to Yield Right of Way, etc.
  • Maryland MVA hearings

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HEPFUL INFORMATION

If you are charged with a “must-appear” traffic offense then yes, you do need to appear for court. Must-appear offenses carry a maximum penalty of jail time. If you do not appear in court when instructed to, the judge can issue a bench warrant in order to get you to appear. However, just because the maximum penalty is jail does not mean you will go to jail. An experienced traffic defense attorney can help keep you out of jail and keep you on the road.

Remember that if you just “pay the fine” on a traffic citation then the court finds you guilty of that offense. If the offense is a moving violation that carries points, those points will go on your driver’s license. Depending on number of points and your driving record, this could cause your insurance rates to rise or could result in a suspension of your license by the MVA. If you have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) then you could be facing a loss of your CDL privileges and your job could be in jeopardy.

In some instances, it may be that your best move is to just pay the fine, but a lot of times an attorney can help you minimize the negative collateral consequences of a traffic citation. It is always beneficial to discuss this matter with an attorney.

The MVA is the administration that issues driver’s license in Maryland and is wholly separate from the court system. There are certain instances where the MVA will suspend or revoke for a period of time a driver’s license to drive–for example, if a driver accumulates a certain number of points on their license or is charged with an alcohol related driving offense. Requesting an MVA hearing may help a driver keep his or her license or continue to drive with a restricted license. The MVA hearing itself and the process is completely separate from the court’s handling of the traffic offense.

Instead of entering a guilty disposition in a case, a judge can enter a disposition of probation before judgment. There is a big difference. If the disposition is guilty, then the driver will accumulate points on his or her license and the guilty finding will be transmitted to the driver’s insurance company, potentially resulting in an increase in rates. However, if the judge enters a PBJ then the driver accumulates no points for the offense. Insurance companies also do not find out about PBJs. Having a PBJ instead of a guilty finding can be a tremendous help in keeping a driver’s license intact and keeping insurance premiums low.

“NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW AND NO MAN BELOW IT.”

– Theodore Roosevelt

Our Professional Services Include:

  • Criminal Defense – We represent persons charged with any kinds of misdemeanor and felony charges.
  • DUI/DWI Defense – Representation in court for DUI/DWI cases and in MVA or DMV license suspension hearings.
  • Traffic Defense – Representation for traffic citations such as driving suspended, driving without a license, speeding, or any other infraction.
  • Criminal Appeals – Post-conviction representation at Circuit Court or Appellate Court.
  • Personal Injury – We represent persons injured by others in motor vehicle or other accidents.
  • Where We Practice – Representation in the District Court and Circuit Court in Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and the Superior Court for the District of Columbia.

Issues That May Arise in Traffic Court: 

We will discuss these issues in depth during our meetings. 

 

CONTACT ME FOR A CONSULTATION REGARDING YOUR CASE

Whatever your case is, big or small, I can help you. I’m an experienced Maryland and DC criminal defense attorney who has helped out many individuals in similar or worse predicaments. Call me today for a free consultation at (301) 875-3472. Don’t hesitate because there may be some proactive or remedial steps we can take in your case before going to court, or there may be witnesses we need to locate, or evidence in your favor that needs to be preserved before it is lost. Not to mention the sooner we begin working on your case, the sooner you can have some piece of mind that you have an attorney working for your best interests and protecting your rights.

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