Legal Question in Traffic Law in Maryland

2 Traffic Tickets in 3 Weeks - How to Plead to 2nd Ticket

3 weeks ago I was ticketed for failing to obey a traffic device - I didn't see that a lane was marked right turn only until I was already proceeding straight through the intersection. I pled ''guilty with explanation'' and my trial date is next week - I would have paid the fine, but the ticketing officer actually told me I should go to court, and I don't want points on my license so was hoping to be able to go to traffic school or something and have it dismissed upon completion. Well, last night I was ticketed again in the same jurisdiction for failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign - I was unaware I had not come to a 100% stop, so it must have been only a very slightly rolling stop if that. The ticketing officer (a different officer) again suggested I go to court to avoid points on my license, but I'm concerned about this being my second offense in such a short time. If on the first offense I'm given probation, will the second ticket be an automatic violation of this yet-to-be-received probation? And should I just go ahead and pay the second ticket and accept the license point and raised insurance rates, or is it possible that traffic school or some such deal could possibly clear both these one-point violations?


Asked on 2/02/07, 12:29 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Traffic Tickets in 3 Weeks - How to Plead to 2nd Ticket

You should talk to a lawyer, now. My general advice is never pay a ticket. By paying a ticket you are not requiring the State to prove its case. Go to Court, so you can require the State to prove its case, you get a chance to tell the Judge your side of the Story, and have the points dropped or reduced, as well as the fine. If, for some reason the officer does not show up for court, you will be found not guilty. By pleading guilty with an explanation, the officer does not have to show up, and you are giving up another chance to be found not guilty.

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Answered on 2/03/07, 1:22 pm
Nakia Gray Law Office of Nakia Gray

Re: 2 Traffic Tickets in 3 Weeks - How to Plead to 2nd Ticket

You should contact a lawyer to represent you for these two tickets. Going to court to fight the tickets is probably a good idea for you since you don't want to get the points. First, if the officer doesn't show (which is reasonably forseeable), the citation will be dropped. Second, even the officer shows up, the judge may either eliminate the points or reduce them.

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Answered on 2/03/07, 9:07 pm


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