A citation is a form, entitled Maryland Uniform Complaint and Citation, which may be issued to you by a police officer if you violate certain motor vehicle traffic laws. Citations are issued for violations such as speeding and failure to wear a seat belt. The back of the citation provides information about what you must do: either pay the specified fine, or appear in Maryland District Court to contest the citation. For more information about citations, see the
District Court Traffic Citation Fact Sheet.
Note that parking and red light camera tickets differ from other citations in that they are issued to the owner of the vehicle, regardless of who is driving the vehicle at the time of the violation. For this reason, they do not carry points. The citations cited on the Maryland Uniform Complaint and Citation are issued to the driver of a vehicle, regardless of whether or not that person owns the vehicle, and they may carry points.
What happens if I receive a traffic citation and I don't comply with the requirements described in the citation?
If you fail to pay the fine or appear in District Court to contest it, the Court will electronically notify the MVA. The MVA then will mail you a notice that your driver’s license will be suspended unless you satisfy the court requirements by the suspension date printed on the notice.
What should I do if I receive a notice of suspension?
To avoid having your Maryland driver’s license suspended, you must satisfy the requirements of the court before the suspension date printed on your notice. Contact the appropriate District Court, not the MVA, in order to:
- Pay the fine at the District Court; or
- Pay the fine by phone using a credit card (in Baltimore, call 410-974-7177; outside of Baltimore, call 1-800-492-2656); or
- Pay the fine online at: https://www.paymentchek.com/MD/MarylandCourt or
- Be granted a new trial date and post a penalty deposit with the District Court.
Note that if you pay the fine, you are admitting guilt and any points associated with the conviction are posted to your driver record. Also, if you pay your fine with a check that cannot be processed, or a check that is written for the wrong amount, or if you appear in court and do not later pay the fine assessed by the judge, the court will request that the MVA suspend your license for failure to pay the fine.
What happens if I don't satisfy the court requirements by the suspension date?
Your Maryland driver’s license will be suspended until you satisfy the requirements of the court. Once you have satisfied the requirements, the District Court will request that the MVA lift your suspension. Note: the record of your suspension will remain on your driver record.
If your driver’s license expires for more than a year during the suspension period, you will be required to re-apply for a new driver’s license, including re-taking all tests and presenting proof of age/identity, lawful presence, verifiable social security number or proof of ineligibility and proof of Maryland residency.
Fees:
- There are no MVA fees associated with the issuance of a traffic citation. However, the Maryland District Court may impose fees.
Contact Information:
MVA
Administrative Adjudication Division
6601 Ritchie Highway,NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
MVA Customer Service Center: 1-410-768-7000
TTY/Hearing Impaired: 1-301-729-4563
