DUISt Mary's CountyDon’t Underestimate Traffic Charges in St. Mary’s County

Hello, I’m a criminal defense traffic attorney practicing in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, at The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC.

I’ve seen firsthand how even “minor” traffic offenses can spiral into major legal problems. Many folks think a speeding ticket or a first-time DUI is just an annoyance.

 Here’s what I tell my clients: traffic violations around here are taken very seriously.

They can lead to hefty fines, jail time, probation, license suspension, and points on your license – not to mention sky-high insurance premiums.

In this post, I’ll walk you through common traffic crimes in St. Mary’s County (DUI, reckless driving, speeding, fleeing and eluding, MVA hearings, and driving on a suspended license), explain their consequences, and share how an experienced attorney (like me!) can help you beat or minimize the charges.

DUI – Driving Under the Influence (It’s a Big Deal)

Let’s start with DUIs, because they’re among the most severe traffic charges.

St. Mary’s County law enforcement has been cracking down hard on drunk driving.

We even have sobriety checkpoints – for example, the Sheriff’s Office ran one in December 2024 to catch impaired drivers[ smnewsnet.com].

This isn’t just for show; about half of our county’s fatal car crashes involve an impaired driver [smnewsnet.com].

Trust me, the cops and prosecutors know this, and they push for tough penalties in DUI cases.

What are the consequences?In Maryland, a first-offense DUI can bring up to 1 year in jail and $1,000 in fines, plus 12 points on your license and a 6-month license suspension. If you get a second DUI, it doubles to 2 years in jail, $2,000 fine, and another license suspension.

In short, even a first DUI can wreck your life – you could lose your license (which means trouble getting to work), pay a fortune, or even end up behind bars. And if you had a high BAC, or a minor in the car, or caused an accident, the penalties get even harsher.

How I help clients facing a DUI:I’m particularly aggressive in defending DUI cases, because so much is at stake. First, I look closely at why you were stopped.

If the police didn’t have a good legal reason to pull you over, we can challenge that stop. I also scrutinize how the field sobriety tests were done – those roadside tests (walk-and-turn, eye test, etc.) are often unreliable or improperly administered.

If there’s a breathalyzer or blood test, I check if the testing device was calibrated and used correctly. In many cases, there’s room to challenge the admissibility or accuracy of the evidence against you.

Another critical piece is the MVA license hearing. After a DUI arrest in Maryland, you’re usually facing an automatic license suspension.

But you have the right to request a Motor Vehicle Administration hearing to fight that [peoples-law.org].

I represent my clients at these MVA hearings, fighting hard to keep your driving privileges so you’re not stuck unable to drive for work or family needs. Sometimes we can secure a restricted license or get you into the ignition interlock program instead of a full suspension.

Throughout the process, my goal is to shield you from the worst consequences and protect your future. That could mean negotiating a lesser charge (like getting a DUI reduced to a lesser offense), or obtaining a probation before judgment (so you avoid a conviction on your record).

Every case is different, but I leverage every strategy available – from questioning the stop to contesting the evidence – to put you in the best possible position to move on with your life.

Reckless Driving – More Than Just a Speeding Ticket

“Reckless driving” might sound vague, but in Maryland it’s a specific misdemeanor offense.

Typically, you get hit with a reckless driving charge if you were driving in a way that shows a wanton disregard for safety – for example, weaving through traffic at 30+ mph over the limit or other extremely dangerous behavior.

Here in St. Mary’s County, police and prosecutors don’t shrug this off; it’s not just a regular ticket.

In fact, Maryland lawmakers have been pushing for even tougher laws to crack down on reckless drivers.

There’s a recent bill that would make going 30 mph over the limit automatically qualify as reckless driving, requiring a court appearance and even allowing up to 60 days in jail for that alone [wtop.com]. (Right now, extreme speeders often just pay a fine by mail – that could change soon because of how prevalent and dangerous high-speed driving has become.)

Consequences of a reckless driving conviction:You could face a fine up to $1,000 – not pocket change for most folks. Maryland will slap 6 points on your driving record for reckless driving. Accumulate enough points (8 or more within two years) and the MVA can suspend your license; hit 12 points and they’ll revoke it outright.

Those points also mean your insurance rates will likely skyrocket. And don’t overlook the possibility of jail time.

While not everyone convicted of reckless driving goes to jail, the judge can send you to jail for up to 60 days for a first offense, and up to 1 year for repeat offenses. Knowing our local courts, they reserve jail mostly for the worst or repeat offenders, but the risk is there – especially if your driving was truly egregious or you have a history.

How an attorney can fight a reckless driving charge:In many cases, we can argue that what happened doesn’t rise to the level of “reckless.”

Maybe you were speeding but not driving with the kind of gross negligence the law requires. I often negotiate with prosecutors to reduce a reckless driving charge to negligent driving or a simple speeding ticket (which carry fewer points and no criminal record).

I comb through the evidence – was the speed measured accurately with a properly calibrated radar? Were there circumstances (like an emergency) that explain your driving?

Every angle matters. The goal is to prevent a harsh outcome. For instance, avoiding those 6 points can save your license from suspension and keep your insurance from doubling.

If it’s your first offense, I’ll argue for leniency – perhaps a period of probation or driving school instead of any jail or heavy fine. Keeping a clean record (or as clean as possible) is key to protecting your future job prospects and freedom to drive.

Speeding Tickets – Points and Fines (and When They Become a Big Problem)

We all know what a speeding ticket is, but many people don’t realize how quickly a simple ticket can pile up consequences.

In St. Mary’s County, you might get pulled over for doing, say, 15 mph over the limit on Route 235 or Route 5. It feels routine.

But if you just pay the fine and forget about it, points will be added to your Maryland driving record.

For example, 10–19 mph over the limit is 2 points; 20–29 over is also typically 2 points (5 points if you were 20+ over in a 70 mph zone); and 30+ mph over the limit jumps to 5 points.

Those points stay on your record for two years. If you accumulate 8 points, the MVA will send you a suspension notice, and at 12 points your license gets revoked – essentially the “death penalty” for your driver’s license.

Now, a single speeding ticket usually isn’t enough to cost your license, but it can inch you closer.

Plus, insurance companies love to hike your rates for moving violations.

Two or three minor speeding tickets in a short span can mark you as a “high-risk driver.” And remember, as noted above, if you were going extremely fast, police might charge you with reckless driving on top of just a speed citation.

Enforcement trends:Lately, there’s been a big focus on curbing speeding in our area. We’ve had some tragic accidents on local roads, and the community has spoken out. In late 2024, the State Highway Administration lowered the speed limit on parts of Three Notch Road (Route 5) from 55 down to 45 mph due to safety concerns after several fatal crashes.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff publicly said that while the state sets the limits, his deputies are responsible for enforcing them for everyone’s safety.

Translation: expect stricter enforcement on those stretches – the speed limit dropped, and they will be pulling people over to make sure drivers get the message.

I’ve also seen targeted speed enforcement campaigns, especially in problem areas like Charlotte Hall and Leonardtown, where deputies run radar and stops frequently. In short, don’t bank on being let off with a warning.

How I help with speeding violations:For a basic speeding ticket, many people just pay it.

But if you have a lot on the line – say, you already have points or a CDL license or a job that depends on your clean record – it’s wise to fight the ticket.

I can go to court on your behalf (often you won’t even have to appear) and try to get the ticket reduced or thrown out.

Sometimes the officer might not show up, which can lead to a dismissal.

If they do, I can question whether the speed measurement was accurate: Was the laser or radar properly calibrated and operated? Is there dashcam or bodycam footage of the stop that might show something we can use?

I might argue for a “probation before judgment” (PBJ), which in Maryland is a disposition where you get no conviction and no points if you meet certain conditions (often used for first-time offenses). The idea is to keep your record clean. For high-speed cases, avoiding a reckless driving conviction is a big win – I may negotiate it down to just a speeding offense.

Bottom line: an attorney can often save you points, money, and hassle even for a “mundane” speeding ticket, especially if your driving record is on the brink.

Fleeing and Eluding – Never a Good Idea

This one is serious. “Fleeing and eluding” means you failed to stop for the police or tried to get away when they signaled you to pull over.

Maybe you panicked – it happens. But in the eyes of the law, it’s one of the worst traffic-related offenses because it endangers officers and the public. In Maryland, fleeing/eluding is a misdemeanor that carries heavy penalties.

If you’re convicted of even a first offense, you face up to 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine, and the MVA will slam you with 12 points on your license. Twelve points is an automatic license revocation notice – say goodbye to your driving privileges unless you can win them back at a hearing later.

If you do it again (second offense), the max jumps to 2 years in jail. And if someone was hurt or killed during the chase, or you were fleeing after committing another serious crime, it can be charged as a felony – with penalties up to 10 years in prison and $5,000 fine in the most extreme cases.

In St. Mary’s County, I can tell you our judges have very little sympathy for drivers who lead police on a chase.

We’re a smaller community, and word gets around – running from the cops is seen as reckless and disrespectful.

Plus, there have been cases here where fleeing drivers caused terrible accidents. So, expect that if you’re charged, the State’s Attorney will prosecute it aggressively.

How an attorney can defend a fleeing/eluding case:These cases can be tough, but there are defenses. The law requires that you willfully failed to stop knowing a police officer was ordering you.

Sometimes there’s a dispute about whether the person knew they were being stopped – for instance, if it was dark and you didn’t realize those lights were for you, or you thought it was unsafe to pull over in a certain area and were looking for a better spot. I’ll investigate why the stop was initiated in the first place.

If the initial attempt to stop you was unlawful (no reasonable suspicion), that might color the whole case.

I’ll also look at the police procedure: Did they properly identify themselves? Was the police vehicle marked? These details matter, because the statute has specific requirements (like the officer must be in uniform and the police car using lights/siren).

Often, negotiation is key. I have, on occasion, been able to get a fleeing charge reduced to something less serious (like failure to obey a lawful order, or negligent driving) especially if the situation was a low-speed “failure to immediately stop” rather than a high-speed chase.

Every bit we can reduce the charge makes a difference – it could mean the difference between 12 points (and losing your license) versus 3 points, or the difference between a jail sentence versus probation. Judges want to know that you understand how serious your actions were.

Part of my role is also to present you in the best light – maybe you have no prior record, a steady job, family responsibilities – so that one mistake doesn’t define you.

We can also discuss options like enrolling in a driving improvement course or other proactive steps before court to show you’re taking it seriously. My ultimate aim is to keep you out of jail and driving legally, or at least get you back on the road as soon as possible.

MVA Hearings – Fighting for Your License

Not every battle happens in the criminal courtroom. A lot of the pain from traffic offenses comes from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) side – the bureaucratic process that can suspend or revoke your driver’s license.

If you accumulate too many points or are charged with certain offenses, you’ll get a notice that the MVA intends to suspend or revoke your license.

For example, as mentioned, 8 points = likely suspension, 12 = revocation.

Also, if you’re arrested for DUI and either refuse the breath test or blow over the legal limit, the MVA will move to suspend your license before you even go to criminal trial (this is the administrative penalty).

The good news is: you have the right to a hearing to contest these actions [peoples-law.org].

The not-so-good news: you have to act fast (in DUI cases, you must request the hearing within 10 days to prevent an automatic suspension, and absolutely within 30 days or you lose the chance [peoples-law.org]).

I regularly represent clients at MVA hearings in St. Mary’s County (which usually take place at the Office of Administrative Hearings). These hearings are less formal than court, but just as important to your everyday life.

The focus is usually narrow – for instance, in a DUI admin hearing, the issues will be whether the officer had reasonable grounds to suspect DUI, whether you actually refused or failed the test, etc [ peoples-law.org | peoples-law.org]. In a points suspension hearing, the issue is often whether there’s any grounds to modify or avoid the suspension.

How an attorney helps at an MVA hearing:I come prepared with any evidence or arguments to show why you should keep your license. Maybe you need your license for work (we call this a “bread and butter” license necessity). I can argue for a restricted license instead of a full suspension – for example, allowing you to drive to work, school, or medical appointments.

In DUI cases, I might argue that you should be allowed to do the ignition interlock program in lieu of suspension (this is a device in your car that lets you continue driving as long as you blow clean, which the MVA often permits for first offenders) [peoples-law.org].

I’ll also examine if the police paperwork was done correctly; any technical mistake could result in the case being tossed and you keeping your license.

It’s worth noting: these administrative judges have heard every excuse in the book, so going in alone and saying “Please, I really need my license” might not get you far.

You need to meet legal criteria or take advantage of programs in place. I know the ins and outs of those criteria.

A successful MVA hearing can be a lifesaver – literally keeping your ability to drive to your job and support your family.

I consider this just as important as the court defense, and I handle it with the same vigor.

Driving on a Suspended or Revoked License – A Costly Mistake

Finally, let’s talk about what happens if, unfortunately, your license does get suspended or revoked and you get caught driving anyway.

This is driving on a suspended license (or revoked, which is even more serious). In Maryland, this is a criminal offense, not just a traffic infraction. Since 2006, it’s been classified as a jailable offense – meaning you must appear in court (you can’t just pay a fine and be done).

If you’re convicted of driving on a suspended license, you’re looking at up to 12 months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.

Plus – you guessed it – 12 points on your record, which triggers another license revocation.

Essentially, you dig the hole deeper: you were suspended, you drove, now you get a new conviction that either extends the suspension or makes reinstating your license even harder.

St. Mary’s County, like all of Maryland, treats this seriously because the court sees it as you ignoring prior orders or sanctions.

If your license was suspended due to something like DUI or too many points, and you drive anyway, judges think you “didn’t learn your lesson.”

I’ve seen people go to jail for this, especially if they have prior offenses.

On a first offense, jail is not guaranteed – often we can convince the judge to give a suspended sentence or probation – but you have to handle it just right.

How I approach a suspended license charge:The first question is why was your license suspended? Sometimes people don’t even know their license was suspended.

Maybe you missed a notice from the MVA, or forgot to pay a ticket fine. If there’s a chance you genuinely didn’t realize, that can be a mitigating factor.

Other times, suspensions happen due to administrative errors or not taking an ASAP action (like you had an out-of-state license that wasn’t properly cleared).

I investigate that, because if we can clear up the underlying issue (for example, pay off an old ticket and get your license reinstated before the court date), it goes a long way in showing the judge you’re being responsible now.

I also look at the circumstances of the stop – why were you pulled over? If we can challenge the stop as unlawful, we might beat the charge entirely. Assuming the stop was fine, a big part of my job is damage control: I often negotiate with the prosecutor to see if we can get the charge reduced to something like “driving without a license on person” (which is a much lesser offense) if the situation allows. If not, I’ll present to the court all the reasons to be lenient: you’re fixing your license issues, you had a necessity to drive (maybe a family emergency), you’ve learned your lesson, etc.

Remember:driving on a suspended license also often intersects with other issues. For instance, if you get pulled over suspended, you might also get cited for whatever violation caused the stop (speeding, etc.). We need to handle those too. My aim is to avoid jail for my client – jail should be the last resort. In many cases, I’ve been able to get outcomes that involve fines and probation instead, especially for first-time offenders. I also help clients work out a plan to get their driving privileges restored as soon as possible, whether that’s through probation compliance, attending driver improvement programs, or petitioning the MVA after the suspension period. The sooner you’re legally back on the road, the better for everyone.

Protecting Your Future – How an Experienced Attorney Makes a Difference

I know this is a lot of information, but if there’s one thing to take away, it’s this: traffic crimes can derail your future, but with the right defense, you can often prevent the worst outcomes. A

s a local St. Mary’s County defense attorney, I’ve guided many clients through these exact issues.

I’ve seen the relief on someone’s face when a DUI charge is reduced and they avoid jail, or when we win back a license at an MVA hearing so they can keep their job. It’s why I do this work.

At The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC, we use every legal strategy available to fight excessive charges and minimize penalties for our clients. That means challenging improper police stops and field sobriety tests, contesting the admissibility of evidence, and being relentless in court and at MVA hearings to defend your rights. My philosophy is simple: I treat each case like it’s my own family member on the line. I don’t want one mistake to ruin your life prospects. Whether it’s keeping you out of jail, saving your license, or just reducing fines and points, I focus on minimizing the long-term consequences and protecting your future.

In St. Mary’s County, the trends are clear:police are out in force to catch traffic offenders, and the laws are only getting stricter. But you’re not alone in this. If you’re facing a DUI, a serious traffic charge, or even just an accumulation of tickets that put your license at risk, reach out for legal help instead of rolling the dice.

With experienced counsel, you can often avoid the worst-case scenario and come out of this with your life essentially intact.

Here’s my two cents as I wrap up: Don’t underestimate these charges, and don’t hesitate to get advice.

The sooner a defense attorney gets involved, the more we can do – sometimes even preventing charges from being filed or pointing out issues early that lead to dismissals.

Every case is different, but as someone who’s handled countless traffic cases in St. Mary’s and surrounding counties, I can assure you there’s almost always something we can do to help.

Stay safe out there, and if you do hit a legal bump in the road, I’m here to help you navigate it and keep your future on track.