Got a traffic ticket?

GOT A TRAFFIC TICKET? One thing is for sure, NEVER request a waiver hearing! ALWAYS request a trial!

Waiver hearings are not anything new, but recently, we have been getting a lot of questions about them and thought that we would address them below.

In the State of Maryland, if you’re charged with a traffic citation, you have 30 days from the date that you get the ticket to elect one of the three options:

1. Pay the Ticket – If you pay the ticket, you’re automatically being found “guilty” of the ticket in the eyes of the MVA and will be assessed all fines and points associated with that ticket.
2. Request a Waiver Hearing – If you request a waiver hearing, this means that you have already pled “guilty” to the ticket on paper and are requesting a court date to ask the judge for a reduction of points and fines only.
3. Plead “Not Guilty” and Request a Trial – If you request a trial, you will be mailed a court date, at which time you could later change your mind and plead “guilty,” or contest the ticket, in court.

If you request a waiver hearing, you’ve already lost! You already pled “guilty” to the ticket. This means that you don’t have the benefit of getting the ticket dismissed because the officer does not show up to court, or there was an issue with the ticket, or the officer’s stop of your vehicle was bad. You’ve already pled guilty to the ticket, so your chance to contest anything that might be wrong with the ticket is gone. The officer also does not need to show up in court because you have already pled “guilty” to the infraction, so there is no need for him or her to be there.

If you request a trial, you leave all of your options for contesting the ticket on the table. If you need help contesting your traffic ticket, or undoing a waiver hearing request, one of our experienced traffic attorneys can help you FIGHT your traffic ticket!