Prince George’s County Traffic Lawyer
There is nothing like the freedom of the open road. Americans have been enjoying the highways for decades and ability to travel from one end of the country to the other. Unfortunately, the more time you spend on the road, the more opportunity you have to have an interaction with the police.
There are numerous traffic laws, such as speed limits, no driving while intoxicated, and no reckless driving. The police are on the lookout for people who violate these rules, and you may find yourself pulled over one day.
If an officer has issued you a ticket or citation, you may not realize you can enlist the aid of an attorney. Even a small ticket may cause your insurance premiums to go up. Other citations could result in the government suspending or revoking your driver’s license. And others still could result in jail time.
A Prince George’s County traffic lawyer may be your best option if you are fighting a ticket. At the least, it may be helpful to find out what may happen and how you can best protect yourself.
Typical Traffic Violations
There are many traffic laws, which vary in the severity of punishment. The following is a short list:
- Driving on a suspended license,
- Driving without insurance,
- Speeding,
- Reckless driving,
- Driving while under the influence.
Types of Traffic Violations
There are two types of driving offenses. One involves “payable” offenses, such as driving a bit over the posted speed limit, failure to yield, and improper turning. The ticketed person may choose to pay the fine, plead guilty in court or request a trial. If a person fails to do any of those three things, the court may suspend the driver’s license or issue a bench warrant.
The more severe violations typically require the driver to appear in court. These may involve reckless driving or DUIs. The court may punish a driver with jail time and hefty fines.
Driving with a Suspended License
If a person has a suspended or revoked license and a police officer catches that person, the punishments vary based on the reason for the suspension, as found in Maryland Transportation §16-303. The penalty may be light and require a court appearance a fine of up to $500. Other punishments may be one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Driving Without Insurance
There are two separate penalties for driving without insurance. It is a misdemeanor to drive without insurance, and the driver may face jail time and hefty fines. Even if an insurance policy merely lapses, the driver may lose their license, the court may order that person to pay a penalty of $150 for the first 30 days of the lapse, and then seven dollars a day after that.
Other Traffic Violations
Speeding tickets may vary depending on the zone in which an officer issues a ticket. Tickets may result in points on the driver’s record and fines.
If a driver operates a vehicle at too high a speed, that may result in a reckless driving charge. Any operation of a car which shows disregard for the safety of others or their property may be reckless driving which a court can fine up to $1,000, as noted in Maryland Transportation §21-901.1.
If drugs or alcohol impair a driver, a police officer may arrest that person, and if a court convicts the driver, the driver may face jail time, hefty fines, loss of driving privileges and be forced to attend education classes.
Talk to a Prince George’s County Traffic Attorney Today
There are many rules of the road and a citation related to any law may affect your ability to drive. You may need to learn more about the possible consequences before you can decide on the correct course of action. Arrange an appointment with a Prince George’s County traffic lawyer to learn more.
You may have defenses you were unaware of, or you may be facing harsher penalties than you realized. Reach out as soon as you are aware of any issues, which may result in you having the most options.
