Services
05. Criminal and Traffic Matters
Criminal Cases
In Maryland, if you are convicted of a crime, you could face long-term penalties, such as fines that could take years to pay off or jail time that could mean months or years in lockup. If you have been charged with a crime, it is important to work with a criminal defense lawyer. Throughout the case, as your attorney, I will also advocate for you in negotiations with the prosecution that could result in charges being reduced, dropped or dismissed. I might be able to arrange a plea agreement that could reduce the charges and penalties you face. In some cases, I might even be able to get charges dropped in exchange for community service, anger management, substance abuse treatment, or participation in other rehabilitative programs.
Serious Traffic Offenses
In Maryland, a person can be charged with a traffic infraction, misdemeanor, or felony.
A traffic infraction is any violation listed in the Maryland Transportation Article and is considered the least serious type of violation. The Maryland Transportation Article is a list of laws which must be followed. An example of a traffic infraction is speeding. For traffic infractions, penalties never include any jail time.
A traffic misdemeanor is any violation of the Maryland Transportation Article, unless there is a civil penalty or unless the misdemeanor is increased to a felony. Misdemeanors carry a potential penalty of jail time. Most traffic violations are misdemeanors and carry a penalty of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
There are specific violations in the Transportation Article designated as felonies. What distinguishes a felony is that the possible jail sentence is higher than a misdemeanor. Some examples of a traffic felony include a DUI where someone is killed or automobile manslaughter.
There are two different types of traffic offenses in Maryland. The first one is a payable offense and the second one is a must-appear offense. Payable offenses are minor traffic offenses, such as speeding, while must-appear are more serious traffic offenses such as driving on a suspended or revoked license, driving without insurance, or DUI, and they all include possible jail time as a potential sentencing penalty.
