Traffic violations are among the most common offenses across the state of Maryland. That’s because there is such a large spectrum of traffic violations. While an individual with dangerous driving tendencies could easily receive a major traffic violation, a driver with a perfect record who made a one-off mistake could just as easily be charged a minor offense. Because there are so many types of traffic violations, we’ll be focusing on one of them in this blog: moving traffic violations.
What is a Moving Traffic Violation?
As you might expect, moving traffic violations take place when a breach of the law occurs while a vehicle is in motion. This could be as simple as exceeding the speed limit by a few miles per hour or as major as a DUI offense.
Minor Moving Traffic Violations
Minor moving traffic violations are more common than major offenses because they mostly involve mistakes that are not premeditated or not overly dangerous. Examples of such violations include:
- Minor speeding offenses
- Using cell phone while vehicle is in motion
- Failing to stay in dedicated lane
- Failure to remain stopped at a red light
- Tailgating
- Failure to stop when approaching a stopped school bus from any side of the road
In most cases, you will have the option to either pay a small fine, request a mitigation hearing to reduce the consequences, or request a contested hearing to prove your innocence. If you choose either of the two latter options, an experienced attorney will be a great ally to represent you in court.
Major Moving Traffic Violations
Major moving traffic violations are given to drivers who exhibit a blatant disregard to the health and safety of others and their property. There are certainly grey areas between minor and major offenses. For example, the state of Maryland abides by the absolute speed limit law, meaning you could technically be given a ticket by law enforcement for traveling 1 mph over the speed limit. Naturally, that would be a minor violation. Conversely, significantly exceeding the speed limit could lead to a reckless driving charge, which is a major offense.
Here are a few more major offenses:
- Drag racing
- Manslaughter
- DUI and DWI
- Hit and run
- Road Rage
- Refusal to pull over for a signaling officer
These are all serious offenses that could result in life changing consequences. There is a lot at stake here, and that’s why it’s best to consult a Maryland traffic lawyer instead of navigating this critical process alone.
We Can Help You Avoid Severe Traffic Charges or Minimize Your Punishment
There are facts about each specific case that can significantly reduce penalties if an experienced attorney who understands this area of law presents the case. The Law Office of Elizabeth A. Lawrence offers high-quality legal representation, personal attention, and professionalism to help defend the harsh penalties of DWIs, DUIs, and other serious traffic offenses in Maryland and District of Columbia. Click here or call (410) 986-0088 to consult with an experienced attorney today. Skype, Zoom and Facetime consultations are available as well.