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Maryland Traffic Laws: Points, Tickets, License Suspension and DUI

Maryland driving rules: point system, speeding points, traffic school, how to pay or fight a ticket, license suspension, DUI limits and penalties.

Quick answers for Maryland

Point system
Maryland uses a point system based on points accumulated within any two-year period: 3 points brings a warning letter; 5 points requires a Driver Improvement Program; 8 points brings a notice of suspension; Md. Code, Transp. § 16-404; MVA, Driver's License Points
Points for speeding
Speeding 10 mph or more over the posted limit is 2 points; speeding 20 mph or more over a posted 65 mph limit is 5 points; speeding 30 mph or more over the posted limit is 6 points. Md. Code, Transp. § 16-402(a)
Legal BAC limit
0.08 BAC is over the legal limit. Drivers under 21, and drivers with an alcohol restriction on their license, may not drive with any alcohol in their system. MVA, Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
First-offense DUI penalties
First DUI conviction: up to $1,000 fine, up to 1 year in jail, 12 points, and license revocation of up to 6 months. MVA, Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Last verified: 2026-10-27

Tickets and points

Point systemMaryland uses a point system based on points accumulated within any two-year period: 3 points brings a warning letter; 5 points requires a Driver Improvement Program; 8 points brings a notice of suspension; and 12 points brings a notice of revocation. An initial points suspension is 2 to 30 days and a later one 15 to 90 days. A notice takes effect 10 days after it is sent unless a hearing is requested. Provisional license holders under 18 who reach 5 or more points in 12 months are suspended for 6 months (1 year for a later offense).
Source: Md. Code, Transp. § 16-404; MVA, Driver's License Points
Points for speedingSpeeding 10 mph or more over the posted limit is 2 points; speeding 20 mph or more over a posted 65 mph limit is 5 points; speeding 30 mph or more over the posted limit is 6 points. Lesser moving violations not otherwise listed (and not contributing to a crash) are 1 point.
Source: Md. Code, Transp. § 16-402(a)
How long points lastPoints are assessed as of the date of the violation once a conviction is reported, and MVA actions are based on points accumulated within any two-year period. The MVA says points are not removed on request.
Source: Md. Code, Transp. §§ 16-402(a), 16-404(a); MVA, Driver's License Points
Traffic schoolThe MVA does not offer a course that dismisses a ticket or removes points; it says points are not removed upon request. A Driver Improvement Program is required when a driver reaches 5 points within two years.
Source: MVA, Driver's License Points; Md. Code, Transp. § 16-404(a)(2)
Paying or fighting a ticketFor a payable citation (such as most speeding tickets), the driver must, within 30 days after receiving it, either pay the fine (which is a guilty plea), request a payment plan (if at least $150 is owed), request a waiver hearing to plead 'guilty with an explanation,' or request a trial to plead 'not guilty.' Payment can be made in person at any District Court or at an MVA payment kiosk; the waiver hearing and trial require appearing in court. If the driver does not respond within 30 days, the MVA is notified and may suspend the license. 'Must appear' citations, such as DUI or driving on a suspended license, require a court appearance.
The court page says the Maryland Online Resolutions (MDOR) system is not accepting new cases.
Source: District Court of Maryland, Traffic Citations self-help
Paying or looking up a ticket onlineFor a payable citation, you must act within 30 days after receiving it. Pay online through the District Court's payment site (non-refundable convenience fee), by phone at (800) 492-2656, by mail to District Court Traffic Processing Center, P.O. Box 6676, Annapolis, MD 21401, in person at any District Court, or at the Maryland Uniform Traffic Citation Payment Kiosk in local MVA offices. Look up your citation and its status on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
Online payment: https://paymentsolutions.lexisnexis.com/md/city/annapolis/districtcourt
Source: District Court of Maryland, Traffic Citation Information

License suspension

License suspensionSuspension or revocation reasons include point accumulation (8 points suspension, 12 points revocation), not responding to a payable citation within 30 days, failing or refusing an alcohol test, DUI/DWI convictions, and failure to pay child support. Provisional drivers under 18 face 6-month suspensions at 5 points in 12 months.
Source: MVA, Drivers with Revoked or Suspended Licenses; District Court of Maryland traffic self-help; Md. Code, Transp. § 16-404
Hardship or restricted licenseThe MVA may issue a restrictive license during an alcohol-related suspension to a person who participates in its Ignition Interlock System Program. For a driver under 18 suspended for texting, the MVA may issue a restricted license limited to work, travel to and from work, or school.
Source: Md. Code, Transp. §§ 16-404(c)(3), 21-1124.1(d)
Checking and reinstating a licenseRequest a reinstatement application through your myMVA account; the MVA reviews your record and, if no problems are found, mails you the application. Upload the completed application through myMVA with the required fees, and track your case status there 24/7. Fees: restoration $30; reinstatement $90; reinstatement for drug- or alcohol-related offenses $150; additional fees may apply for testing or a new license. If approved, bring the approval letter to a full-service MVA branch (you may need to retest); a denial can be appealed to the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Fees: https://mva.maryland.gov/title-registration/fees-payment-options
Source: Maryland MVA, Reinstate a License; Fees & Payment Options

DUI / DWI

Legal BAC limit0.08 BAC is over the legal limit. Drivers under 21, and drivers with an alcohol restriction on their license, may not drive with any alcohol in their system.
The commercial-driver BAC limit was not stated on the MVA page read; it lists CDL disqualification of 1 year for a first offense (3 years with hazardous materials) and lifetime for a second.
Source: MVA, Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
First-offense DUI penaltiesFirst DUI conviction: up to $1,000 fine, up to 1 year in jail, 12 points, and license revocation of up to 6 months. First DWI (driving while impaired) conviction: up to $500 fine, up to 2 months in jail, 8 points, and a 6-month suspension (1 year if under 21). Separately, failing a test brings an administrative suspension of 180 days for a first offense (at 0.08–0.14 or 0.15 and above). Higher penalties apply when driving with a minor.
Source: MVA, Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
When a DUI is a felonyUnder Maryland's DUI law, driving under the influence or impaired is a misdemeanor, not a felony, even for repeat offenses. Violations of the Maryland Vehicle Law are misdemeanors unless the law specifically makes them felonies, and the DUI section does not. Penalties still increase with priors: DUI carries up to 1 year for a first offense and up to 2 years for a second, and transporting a minor raises those maximums to 2 and 3 years. Separate criminal laws covering deaths or injuries caused by an impaired driver were not reviewed for this field.
Source: Md. Code, Transp. §§ 21-902(a), 27-101(a)
Refusing a breath testIf a driver refuses a test for alcohol or drugs (or fails one), the officer takes the Maryland license, may issue a 45-day paper license, and issues an Order of Suspension. The administrative suspension for test refusal is 270 days for a first offense and 2 years for a second.
Source: MVA, Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
DUI lookback periodThe MVA defines a repeat offender as someone with more than one DUI in 5 years; repeat offenders face a 1-year suspension followed by 1 year in the Ignition Interlock Program (or eligible drivers may choose 1 year of interlock instead). Two DUI convictions in 5 years require Ignition Interlock Program participation. Points-based suspension lengths for DWI also depend on whether a second conviction comes less than 5 years after the first.
Source: MVA, Driving Under the Influence (DUI); Md. Code, Transp. § 16-404(c)(2)
How long a DUI stays on your recordThe MVA says DUI convictions are not eligible to be expunged from the Maryland driving record, along with other convictions or license sanctions that carry higher penalties if they happen again. On the criminal side, Maryland's list of misdemeanor convictions that can be expunged does not include the DUI law (Transportation § 21-902).
The MVA page does not state a set number of years a DUI stays on the driving record.
Source: Maryland MVA, Driving Record Expungement; Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 10-110
Sobriety checkpointsYes, they are used. The Maryland Highway Safety Office explains that police set up sobriety checkpoints, especially around holidays and weekends, where drivers are stopped briefly while an officer checks for impairment, and that checkpoints must be clearly marked so drivers get advance warning.
No Maryland statute that authorizes or bans sobriety checkpoints was found.
Source: Maryland Highway Safety Office, 'What Happens at a Sobriety Checkpoint?'

Phones and distracted driving

Phone and texting lawsA driver may not use a text messaging device to write, send or read a text or electronic message while operating in the travel portion of the roadway (calls to 9-1-1 are excepted). A driver of a moving vehicle may not use hands to operate a handheld phone except to start or end a call or turn the phone on or off; fines are up to $75 for a first offense, $125 for a second and $175 for later offenses, with no points unless the violation contributes to a crash (a first-offense fine may be waived with proof of a hands-free device). School bus drivers carrying passengers, and learner's permit or provisional license holders, may not use a handheld phone at all. Drivers under 18 who violate the texting ban may have the license suspended for up to 90 days.
Source: Md. Code, Transp. §§ 21-1124.1, 21-1124.2

Where to get help in Maryland

Traffic Tickets & DUI FAQ

How does the driver point system work in Maryland?
Maryland uses a point system based on points accumulated within any two-year period: 3 points brings a warning letter; 5 points requires a Driver Improvement Program; 8 points brings a notice of suspension; and 12 points brings a notice of revocation. An initial points suspension is 2 to 30 days and a later one 15 to 90 days. A notice takes effect 10 days after it is sent unless a hearing is requested. Provisional license holders under 18 who reach 5 or more points in 12 months are suspended for 6 months (1 year for a later offense).
How many points is a speeding ticket in Maryland?
Speeding 10 mph or more over the posted limit is 2 points; speeding 20 mph or more over a posted 65 mph limit is 5 points; speeding 30 mph or more over the posted limit is 6 points. Lesser moving violations not otherwise listed (and not contributing to a crash) are 1 point.
How long do points stay on your license in Maryland?
Points are assessed as of the date of the violation once a conviction is reported, and MVA actions are based on points accumulated within any two-year period. The MVA says points are not removed on request.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in Maryland?
The MVA does not offer a course that dismisses a ticket or removes points; it says points are not removed upon request. A Driver Improvement Program is required when a driver reaches 5 points within two years.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in Maryland?
For a payable citation, you must act within 30 days after receiving it. Pay online through the District Court's payment site (non-refundable convenience fee), by phone at (800) 492-2656, by mail to District Court Traffic Processing Center, P.O. Box 6676, Annapolis, MD 21401, in person at any District Court, or at the Maryland Uniform Traffic Citation Payment Kiosk in local MVA offices. Look up your citation and its status on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
How do I check if my license is suspended and get it reinstated in Maryland?
Request a reinstatement application through your myMVA account; the MVA reviews your record and, if no problems are found, mails you the application. Upload the completed application through myMVA with the required fees, and track your case status there 24/7. Fees: restoration $30; reinstatement $90; reinstatement for drug- or alcohol-related offenses $150; additional fees may apply for testing or a new license. If approved, bring the approval letter to a full-service MVA branch (you may need to retest); a denial can be appealed to the Office of Administrative Hearings.
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Maryland?
For a payable citation (such as most speeding tickets), the driver must, within 30 days after receiving it, either pay the fine (which is a guilty plea), request a payment plan (if at least $150 is owed), request a waiver hearing to plead 'guilty with an explanation,' or request a trial to plead 'not guilty.' Payment can be made in person at any District Court or at an MVA payment kiosk; the waiver hearing and trial require appearing in court. If the driver does not respond within 30 days, the MVA is notified and may suspend the license. 'Must appear' citations, such as DUI or driving on a suspended license, require a court appearance.
What gets your license suspended in Maryland?
Suspension or revocation reasons include point accumulation (8 points suspension, 12 points revocation), not responding to a payable citation within 30 days, failing or refusing an alcohol test, DUI/DWI convictions, and failure to pay child support. Provisional drivers under 18 face 6-month suspensions at 5 points in 12 months.
What is the legal blood alcohol limit in Maryland?
0.08 BAC is over the legal limit. Drivers under 21, and drivers with an alcohol restriction on their license, may not drive with any alcohol in their system.
What is the penalty for a first DUI in Maryland?
First DUI conviction: up to $1,000 fine, up to 1 year in jail, 12 points, and license revocation of up to 6 months. First DWI (driving while impaired) conviction: up to $500 fine, up to 2 months in jail, 8 points, and a 6-month suspension (1 year if under 21). Separately, failing a test brings an administrative suspension of 180 days for a first offense (at 0.08–0.14 or 0.15 and above). Higher penalties apply when driving with a minor.
What happens if you refuse a breathalyzer in Maryland?
If a driver refuses a test for alcohol or drugs (or fails one), the officer takes the Maryland license, may issue a 45-day paper license, and issues an Order of Suspension. The administrative suspension for test refusal is 270 days for a first offense and 2 years for a second.
How long does a DUI count as a prior offense in Maryland?
The MVA defines a repeat offender as someone with more than one DUI in 5 years; repeat offenders face a 1-year suspension followed by 1 year in the Ignition Interlock Program (or eligible drivers may choose 1 year of interlock instead). Two DUI convictions in 5 years require Ignition Interlock Program participation. Points-based suspension lengths for DWI also depend on whether a second conviction comes less than 5 years after the first.
Can you get a hardship license in Maryland?
The MVA may issue a restrictive license during an alcohol-related suspension to a person who participates in its Ignition Interlock System Program. For a driver under 18 suspended for texting, the MVA may issue a restricted license limited to work, travel to and from work, or school.
Is it illegal to hold your phone while driving in Maryland?
A driver may not use a text messaging device to write, send or read a text or electronic message while operating in the travel portion of the roadway (calls to 9-1-1 are excepted). A driver of a moving vehicle may not use hands to operate a handheld phone except to start or end a call or turn the phone on or off; fines are up to $75 for a first offense, $125 for a second and $175 for later offenses, with no points unless the violation contributes to a crash (a first-offense fine may be waived with proof of a hands-free device). School bus drivers carrying passengers, and learner's permit or provisional license holders, may not use a handheld phone at all. Drivers under 18 who violate the texting ban may have the license suspended for up to 90 days.
Is a DUI a felony in Maryland?
Under Maryland's DUI law, driving under the influence or impaired is a misdemeanor, not a felony, even for repeat offenses. Violations of the Maryland Vehicle Law are misdemeanors unless the law specifically makes them felonies, and the DUI section does not. Penalties still increase with priors: DUI carries up to 1 year for a first offense and up to 2 years for a second, and transporting a minor raises those maximums to 2 and 3 years. Separate criminal laws covering deaths or injuries caused by an impaired driver were not reviewed for this field.
How long does a DUI stay on your record in Maryland?
The MVA says DUI convictions are not eligible to be expunged from the Maryland driving record, along with other convictions or license sanctions that carry higher penalties if they happen again. On the criminal side, Maryland's list of misdemeanor convictions that can be expunged does not include the DUI law (Transportation § 21-902).
Are DUI checkpoints legal in Maryland?
Yes, they are used. The Maryland Highway Safety Office explains that police set up sobriety checkpoints, especially around holidays and weekends, where drivers are stopped briefly while an officer checks for impairment, and that checkpoints must be clearly marked so drivers get advance warning.

Traffic Tickets & DUI in other states

More Maryland law

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.