Maryland Hikes New Speeding Fines Up to $425 Starting Oct. 1
New Penalty System Adopts a Five-Tier Progressive Structure
Key Takeaways:
- The automated speed citations do not add points to driver’s licenses.
- The faster a motorist is traveling over the speed limit, the higher the fine.
- Fines start at $40 for speeding 12 to 15 mph over the limit.
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Maryland is raising its camera speeding ticket fines Oct. 1 to a progressive penalty system starting at $40 and climbing to $425 for driving faster than posted limits.
City officials and law enforcement departments across the state are telling drivers to be aware of the new civil penalties due to recent legislation.
enacted the changes May 13 when he signed House Bill 182 to overhaul the imposition of camera speeding fines.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott cautioned motorists there.
“This updated structure increases penalties for extreme speeding, focusing on those who pose the greatest danger to our communities,” he noted. “If you want to avoid paying higher fines, the solution is simple: Do not speed.”
The automated speed citations do not add points to driver’s licenses. However, the faster a person is traveling over the speed limit, the higher the fine.
“By aligning penalties with the severity of the offense, we are holding drivers accountable while prioritizing the protection of our most vulnerable road users,” said , director of the .
The new law repealed a Maryland statutory provision limiting the maximum civil penalty to $40 for motor vehicle drivers who travel faster than a posted speed limit and are recorded by a speed monitoring system.
Fines Start at $40
The new five-tier range starts at fines of $40 for speeding 12 to 15 mph over the limit, and $70 for 16 to 19 mph.
The baseline fine triples to $120 for driving 20 to 29 mph over speed limits. Hefty penalties for excessive speeders kick in at $230 for going 30 to 39 mph over limits. The highest fine charges just over $10 per mph for driving 40 or more mph over posted speed limits.
Marissa Valeri, a Rockville City Council member, testified in favor of the bill on behalf of the mayor and council. She advocated a new graduated, equitable fine structure because the past statute fined a driver going 13 mph over the speed limit the same amount as a person speeding at a much faster rate.
The new law also mandates the state highway administration create a work group to evaluate best practices for using speed-monitoring systems in school zones. The group must submit its findings by Dec. 1 to the governor and General Assembly.
Speeding is Dangerous
In 2023, more than 330,000 people were injured in speeding related crashes nationwide.
Please, slow down. Speeding catches up with you. — Maryland Department of Transportation (@MarylandDOT)
Hyattsville Mayor Robert Croslin also supported the law to prevent speed-related injuries and fatalities from traffic accidents.
“Reckless driving not only endangers drivers themselves but also poses a significant threat of injury or death to cyclists and pedestrians,” he said. “The increasing fine structure will serve as an effective deterrent against excessive speeding, which remains a significant and growing issue in Hyattsville and many other communities.”
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