Pay Traffic Ticket in Maryland

Know Your Options

What it Means to Pay Your Traffic Ticket

There are two types of tickets in Maryland: "payable" and "must appear." "Payable" refers to tickets that allow you to admit guilt and pay the ticket fine without appearing in court. While "must appear" tickets are for more serious violations―DUI, driving with a suspended license―that require appearing in court.

Paying a "payable" ticket is an admission of guilt which means:

• The state will assess your points to your driving record based on the infraction
• Points on driving record could lead to the loss of driving privileges
• Points on record could cause insurance provider to increase your car insurance premiums

You must respond within 30 days of receiving your citation. Failure to respond within this time frame could lead to the suspension of your driver's license. This includes must appear tickets, which will list your court date.

Pleading Guilty as a MD CDL Driver

As the holder of Maryland commercial driver's license (CDL) you must take the following actions after being convicted of a traffic violation, regardless of vehicle:

• Notify the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)
• Notify your employer
• Notify your employer if license is suspended, revoked or canceled

For more information on rules and regulations regarding penalties, consult Maryland's Commercial Driver License Manual.

Pleading Not Guilty With an Explanation

You may appear before a judge and explain why you committed the violation and request that your fine be reduced or waived and that you be given probation rather than a citation. The judge will then issue a verdict that may or may not work in your favor. Learn more in our section on Fighting Your Traffic Ticket.

Pleading Not Guilty

Entering a not guilty plea means you've accepted your right to a trial. You'll be given the opportunity to challenge your citation by either representing yourself or hiring legal counsel. Bear in mind that entering a not guilty plea may forfeit all chance for a plea bargain. The court may dismiss the charge, requiring you to only pay court and legal fees. Or it may find you guilty, requiring you to pay the full fine amount along with court and legal fees. Read more in our section on Fighting Your Traffic Ticket.

Pay Your MD Traffic Ticket Online

Most "payable" tickets can be paid online using a valid credit card (Visa, Discover, MasterCard, American Express).

Contact Maryland District Court

Though tickets in MD are handled in district courts, you're not restricted to one specific court when it comes to paying. For example, you can pay your citation in person at the nearest local district court. If you can't find one online, call the district court's Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system at (800) 492-2656 for directions to court locations.

Pay Your MD Traffic Ticket

Maryland traffic tickets come in one of two ways: handwritten (traditional ticket form) or electronic (officer prints ticket from patrol car). Both versions provide detailed information on when and where to respond, and how to pay. If you can't locate your citation, visit our page on lost traffic tickets.

You must be pay the traffic ticket within 30 days of being issued. The options include:

• Pay online
• Pay in-person
• Pay by mail
• Pay by phone

Do not pay the fine if you plan on requesting a trial date or waiver hearing.

And if you've been issued a "must appear" ticket, be sure to appear at the court on the day and time listed on your citation. If you cannot appear on the date posted, you must submit a request to the court where the is hearing is scheduled. This does not guarantee, however, that the court will honor your request.

Check Your Driving Record

After submitting your payment it's always wise to check your driving record for accuracy. Double-check the points. Otherwise, additional points could jeopardize your driving privileges. Added points could also cause an increase in your car insurance premiums.

Shop for Better Auto insurance Rates

After paying your citation and checking your driving record, contact your insurance provider and inquire if your violation will have any affect on your auto insurance rates. Before you renew your car insurance policy, shop around and compare auto insurance rates online.