Maryland speeding tickets follow state law, not local rules, and the fine depends on how far over the limit you were going

In Maryland, a speeding ticket is a traffic citation issued under state law. The fine you owe and whether points go on your record depend on your speed relative to the posted limit, not on which county or city stopped you. Maryland does not allow local jurisdictions to set their own speeding penalties — the state code sets them uniformly.

The basic structure is straightforward: the officer records your speed, the posted limit, and the difference between them. That difference — called the "speed over the limit" — determines your fine range and point assessment. A ticket for going 10 miles per hour over the limit carries a different penalty than one for going 30 miles per hour over.

You receive a citation at the roadside or by mail if the ticket was issued by a speed camera. The citation tells you the fine amount, the court that will handle your case, and the important date to respond. You have options: pay the fine, request a hearing, or request a trial. Each choice has different consequences for your driving record and insurance.

Key Takeaways

  • Maryland fines for speeding range from $90 for 1–10 mph over the limit to $610 for 40+ mph over, plus court costs and a $75 Driver Improvement Program fee if you choose that option.
  • Points are added to your Maryland driving record only if you exceed the speed limit by more than 10 mph, starting at one point for 11–15 mph over and increasing to five points for 40+ mph over.
  • You can pay the fine, request a hearing before a judge, or request a trial; paying the fine means accepting the violation, while a hearing or trial gives you a chance to contest it.
  • Speed camera tickets do not add points to your record and carry lower fines than officer-issued tickets, but you still must respond by the important date or a default judgment may be entered against you.
  • Maryland's Driver Improvement Program allows you to avoid points on your record if you complete an eight-hour course, but you can use this option only once every three years.

How Maryland calculates fines and points for speeding

Maryland law sets fines based on speed over the limit in bands. For 1–10 mph over, the fine is $90. For 11–15 mph over, it is $110. For 16–25 mph over, it is $160. For 26–40 mph over, it is $410. For 40 mph or more over the limit, it is $610. These are the base fines; court costs are added on top, typically $50 to $100 depending on the court.

Points are assessed only if you exceed the speed limit by more than 10 mph. The scale is: one point for 11–15 mph over, two points for 16–25 mph over, three points for 26–40 mph over, and five points for 40 mph or more over. Points remain on your Maryland driving record for three years from the date of the violation. If you accumulate eight points in a 24-month period, the Motor Vehicle Administration may suspend your license.

Speed camera tickets — issued by automated cameras at fixed locations — do not add points to your record, even if you were going significantly over the limit. The fine for a speed camera violation is lower than for an officer-issued ticket: $40 for 1–10 mph over, $60 for 11–20 mph over, and $100 for 21 mph or more over. However, you must still respond to the citation by the important date, usually 30 days.

Your options after receiving a ticket

When you receive a speeding ticket, you have three main paths: pay the fine, request a hearing, or request a trial. The choice you make affects your record, your insurance rates, and whether the violation stays on your driving history.

Paying the fine means you accept the violation. Points (if applicable) go on your record when ready. Your insurance company will likely see the violation within 30 to 60 days and may raise your rates. This is the fastest option but has the longest-term cost.

Requesting a hearing means you ask a judge to review the ticket without a full trial. You can present your side of what happened, and the officer may or may not appear. If the judge finds the ticket was issued in error or that you were not speeding, the ticket is dismissed. If the judge upholds the ticket, you can then request a trial. Hearings are informal and do not require a lawyer, though you can bring one.

Requesting a trial means you ask for a formal court proceeding where both you and the officer present evidence under oath. The burden is on the state to prove you were speeding beyond a reasonable doubt. Trials take longer than hearings — often several months — but they give you the strongest chance to contest the ticket if you have a legitimate defense.

Maryland's Driver Improvement Program and how it affects your record

Maryland offers a Driver Improvement Program (DIP) that allows you to avoid points on your record if you complete an eight-hour course. The course covers traffic safety, road laws, and defensive driving. You pay a $75 fee to the program, separate from your fine.

You can request DIP only if you were cited for speeding 1–15 mph over the limit. If you were going 16 mph or more over, you are not may be able to access. You can use DIP only once every three years, so if you have used it recently, you cannot use it again for this ticket.

If you are approved for DIP, you must complete the course within 60 days of your request. Once you complete it, you submit proof to the court. The points are not added to your record, but the violation itself may still be visible to your insurance company, depending on the company's policy. The fine is still due; DIP removes points, not the fine.

Speed camera tickets and how they differ from officer-issued tickets

Maryland uses automated speed cameras at fixed locations on state highways and in some municipalities. These cameras photograph your vehicle's license plate and record your speed. A ticket is mailed to the vehicle's registered owner.

Speed camera tickets carry no points, regardless of how fast you were going. The fines are lower than officer-issued tickets: $40 for 1–10 mph over, $60 for 11–20 mph over, and $100 for 21 mph or more over. There are no court costs added to speed camera fines.

You still must respond to a speed camera ticket by the important date, usually 30 days from the date of the citation. You can pay the fine, request a hearing to contest it, or request a trial. If you do not respond, a default judgment may be entered, and the Motor Vehicle Administration may suspend your license for failure to respond.

Speed camera tickets do not require the officer to appear in court, so contesting one is different from contesting an officer-issued ticket. You will typically face a judge or hearing officer who reviews the camera image and speed data. You can argue that the camera was miscalibrated, that the speed limit sign was unclear, or that the vehicle was not yours, but the burden is still on you to show the ticket was issued in error.

How a speeding ticket affects your insurance and driving record

A speeding violation stays on your Maryland driving record for three years. During that time, your insurance company can see it and may raise your rates. The increase depends on your insurer's policy and your driving history. A single speeding ticket typically raises rates by 10 to 30 percent, though some insurers charge more.

If you pay the fine without contesting the ticket, the violation is recorded as a conviction. If you contest the ticket and lose, it is still a conviction. If you contest the ticket and win, the ticket is dismissed and does not appear on your record as a conviction — though the arrest or citation itself may still be visible in some databases.

Points on your record have a separate effect. Eight points in 24 months can trigger a license suspension. Six points in 12 months can trigger a suspension for drivers under 18. Points also affect your insurance rates independently of the violation itself.

How to respond to your ticket and what to bring to court

Your citation will list a court and a important date to respond, usually 30 days. You respond by contacting the court listed on the ticket, not the police department. Most Maryland courts allow you to respond by mail, phone, or in person.

If you are paying the fine, you can send a check or money order to the court address on the ticket, or pay online if the court offers it. Include your ticket number and case number with your payment.

If you are requesting a hearing or trial, contact the court and ask for the form to request one. Some courts call it a "Request for Trial" or "Request for Hearing." Submit it by the important date. The court will send you a date and time to appear.

If you go to court, bring your citation, your driver's license, and any evidence you have: photos of the road, GPS data showing your speed, witness contact information, or proof that your speedometer was recently calibrated. If you believe the speed limit sign was obscured or missing, bring photos. If you believe the officer's radar or laser gun was not properly maintained, ask the court for the maintenance records — the officer or the police department must provide them if you request them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a speeding ticket show up on a background check?

A speeding conviction will show up on a criminal background check if the check includes traffic violations. Most employer and housing background checks do not include traffic violations, but some do. A dismissed ticket will not appear as a conviction. If you are concerned about a specific background check, ask the organization what records they review.

Can I get a speeding ticket dismissed if the officer did not show up to court?

Not automatically. If the officer does not appear, you can ask the judge to dismiss the ticket, but the judge has the discretion to grant or deny that request. Some judges will dismiss; others will reschedule. If you want the best chance at dismissal, contest the ticket and be prepared to present your own evidence rather than relying on the officer's absence.

What happens if I ignore a speeding ticket?

If you do not respond by the important date, the court may enter a default judgment against you. The Motor Vehicle Administration can then suspend your license for failure to respond. You will also owe the fine plus additional court costs and penalties. You can ask the court to reopen the case if you have a good reason for missing the important date, but it is better to respond on time.

Can I fight a speed camera ticket?

Yes. You can request a hearing or trial to contest a speed camera ticket. You can argue that the camera was miscalibrated, that the speed limit was unclear, or that the vehicle was not yours. However, the burden is on you to show the ticket was issued in error. Request the camera's maintenance records and calibration data from the court; these are public records and can help your case.

Does the Driver Improvement Program keep the ticket off my insurance record?

The Driver Improvement Program removes points from your driving record, but it does not may provide that your insurance company will not see the violation. Some insurers can see violations even if points were removed. Contact your insurance company to ask whether completing DIP will prevent a rate increase for this ticket.