Maryland Traffic Lawyer
Serious traffic charges put your license, job, and insurance on the line. Our team defends everything from a single speeding ticket to jailable charges like driving while suspended, fleeing and eluding, and leaving the scene of an accident. This page is the map to every traffic resource on our site. If your case involves alcohol or drugs, start at our dedicated DUI defense page.
Max Frizalone
Built a solid reputation as a DUI specialist by securing acquittals by jury and judge in numerous counties.
- Completed NHTSA DWI Detection & Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and NHTSA Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement Training (ARIDE)
- Committed member of the National College for DUI Defense
- Track record of not-guilty verdicts and charge reductions in DUI cases.
Luke Woods
Seasoned DUI litigator with hundreds of criminal traffic trials.
- Served in multiple roles within the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps (Army JAGS) and as a District Public Defender for Calvert County.
- Has tried hundreds of criminal traffic offenses, including countless DUI cases.
- NHTSA-trained and a committed member of the National College for DUI Defense.
The mistake most drivers make: just paying the ticket
Traffic citations often seem simple: pay a fine and they go away. By paying a traffic citation in Maryland, you are entering a plea of guilty and accepting all the points that accompany it. Points raise insurance, stack toward suspension under the Maryland points system, and stay on your record. Instead, request a trial date. A traffic lawyer can attend court on your behalf in many payable-citation cases and argue for a dismissal or a probation before judgment that keeps points off your license.
Serious (jailable) traffic offenses
These are criminal charges heard in District Court with real jail exposure. Our serious traffic charges page covers the category in depth.
- Driving while suspended or revoked
- Driving without a license
- Fleeing and eluding police
- Leaving the scene: property damage, injury, or death
- Reckless driving, negligent driving, and aggressive driving
- Vehicular manslaughter
- Driving an unregistered vehicle
- Failure to return a rental vehicle
Payable citations we defend
- Excessive speed, 30+ over (TA Section 21-801.1) and speeding tickets generally
- Failure to control speed to avoid a collision
- Red light, steady red (TA Section 21-202)
- Stop sign (TA Section 21-707)
- Failure to obey a traffic control device (TA Section 21-201)
- Failure to signal (TA Section 21-604)
- Failure to yield on a left turn (TA Section 21-402)
- Improper lane change (TA Section 21-309)
- Following too closely (TA Section 21-310)
- Passing on the right (TA Section 21-304)
- Unsafe backing (TA Section 21-1102)
- Handheld phone and texting (TA Section 21-1124)
- Passing a stopped school bus (TA Section 21-706)
- Move over law (TA Section 21-405)
License and MVA issues
- The Maryland points system: what each ticket carries and when suspension starts
- License suspension defense: hearings, restricted licenses, and reinstatement
- Maryland car insurance requirements and knowingly driving uninsured
What to expect in Maryland traffic cases
Most traffic cases start in District Court. Some move to Circuit Court if there is a jury trial right or if the State files additional counts. We prepare each case as if it will be tried. That means reviewing the stop, the officer's observations, the method used to measure speed, and any statements or videos. If a jury is available for your charge, we help you choose the right forum. Compare options in our guide to bench versus jury trials.
Defense strategies that work
- Challenge the stop or detention. If the stop was improper, key evidence can be excluded.
- Attack speed measurements. We scrutinize radar, lidar, pacing, and the officer's training and logs.
- Expose weak observations. Vague or boilerplate descriptions can be unreliable.
- Fix license issues early. When a suspension triggers the charge, we work on the licensing problem while defending the case.
- Protect your record. We seek dismissals, not guilty findings, or outcomes that avoid points and collateral fallout, including Probation Before Judgment where appropriate.
CDL and professional drivers
Commercial drivers face unique risks. Points, suspensions, and certain convictions can end a career. We focus on outcomes that protect the CDL and minimize disqualifications. See CDL DUI issues for the alcohol side. If your route takes you through Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Howard, or surrounding counties, our lawyers appear in those courts daily. See our local pages for Baltimore and Montgomery County traffic defense.
When traffic charges overlap with criminal counts
Accident cases can trigger criminal allegations like leaving the scene or reckless endangerment. Alcohol-related stops can lead to companion DUI or DWI charges. If that happens, we connect your traffic defense with the broader criminal strategy, including repeat-offense consequences under 21-902(h).
FAQs
Do I need to appear in court for my ticket?
Many citations require an appearance. Some allow you to prepay, which counts as a conviction and can add points. Talk to us before you decide.
Will a lawyer really make a difference on a speeding case?
Yes. The outcome is often about the stop, the proof, and your driving record. A lawyer can negotiate or try the case to avoid points or a conviction.
Can I get Probation Before Judgment on a traffic charge?
Often yes, if the court agrees. PBJ can protect your record from a conviction and keep points off your license.
What if my ticket is tied to a DUI investigation?
You will want a unified plan. Start with our DUI page and then schedule a consult so we can line up defenses on both fronts.
How do I choose between a bench trial and a jury trial?
Not every traffic offense qualifies for a jury. When it does, we evaluate the judge, the jury pool, and the facts. See our guide to bench versus jury trials.
Talk to a Maryland Traffic Lawyer
A single traffic case can raise your insurance, threaten your license, and create problems at work. Get ahead of it. Our 24-hour attorney line connects you directly with Max Frizalone or Luke Woods. Contact FrizWoods for a free consultation and a defense plan that protects your license and your record.