carries a minimum fine of $510. This “schedule fine” must be paid to avoid a court appearance. Additional fines may be added or removed if the ticket is taken to court. Six demerit points will be added to your

driving record

after a reckless driving citation.

Whenever you get behind the wheel, you have a responsibility to drive in a way that doesn’t put others at risk. Reckless driving occurs when a motorist chooses to operate their vehicle in a dangerous way. If you’re charged with reckless driving in Maryland, you may face hefty fines and six points on your driving record.

This article will walk you through the ins and outs of reckless driving in Maryland.

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How does Maryland define reckless driving?

Under Maryland’s Transportation Code 21-901.1, reckless driving is when a motorist operates a vehicle with “wanton or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property” or in a way that indicates the intent to do so.

This means that a reckless driver knowingly breaks the law in a way that puts other people and property in harm’s way. This is more serious than negligent driving, which punishes drivers for careless driving.

Some examples of reckless driving are:

Driving too fast for the road conditions

Going more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit

Failing to yield the right-of-way

Running a red light

Following too closely

Passing on the right

Key Takeaway: Always drive safely and follow traffic laws to avoid being charged with reckless driving.

What are the penalties for being charged with reckless driving in Maryland?

In Maryland, a reckless driving charge is classified as a misdemeanor. You have the choice of paying the “schedule” fine or going to court to try to reduce the penalties.

The penalties for reckless driving in Maryland are:

A “schedule” fine of $510

Additional fines up to $1,000 if you take the ticket to court

Six demerit points on your driving record

If you can reduce your charge to negligent driving, you may only have to pay a maximum of $500 and will have one to three demerits added to your record.

Aggressive driving is another related charge, which occurs if you break three or more traffic laws in the course of one driving period. This results in fines of up to $500, five demerit points, and possible mandatory driver training courses.

Reckless driving is a serious charge that results in fines and demerit points. By avoiding a reckless driving charge or one of the related charges above, you can avoid the equally serious consequences of dangerous driving.

Key Takeaway: Reckless, negligent, and aggressive driving all carry hefty fines and add demerit points to your driving record.

How can I remove a reckless driving charge from my record?

If you are charged with reckless driving in Maryland, you have the choice of paying the “schedule” fine of $510 or appearing in court to try and reduce your charge. Either way, demerit points from a reckless driving charge will stay on your driving record for two years.

Since reckless driving covers many kinds of traffic violations, there isn’t just one way to get your charges reduced. Some of the following arguments may convince the court to reduce the penalties for your reckless driving charge:

An otherwise spotless driving record

If you can prove that your speedometer was broken

You were unaware of a malfunction in your car that led to the reckless driving charge

You were speeding because of an emergency

If you’ve already been convicted of a reckless driving charge, it’s still possible to remove it from your record. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Department will automatically expunge a traffic violation from your record after three years if you meet the following criteria:

No other traffic or criminal violations in the past three years

Your

Maryland driver's license has not been suspended

or revoked

You’ve never fled the scene of an accident involving injury or death

You’ve never been convicted of a

DUI or DWI

charge or other similar offenses

If you don’t meet the DMV’s requirements, you have the option of submitting a manual expungement request. A lawyer can help you through this process. Depending on the circumstances, submitting a manual expungement request may result in the charge being removed from your record.

MORE: How to get car insurance with a bad driving record

Will reckless driving make my insurance go up?

Reckless driving not only affects your driving record, but it also significantly increases your insurance rates. On average, Maryland insurers will increase your rates by $557 each year after a reckless driving citation. That’s 45% more than what you’d usually have to pay in Maryland.

You can lower your insurance rates by taking

defensive driving courses

. If you avoid future traffic citations, the DMV will usually remove a reckless driving charge from your record after three years. You can also compare insurance companies to make sure you’re getting the best rates available.

MORE: How these 6 types of car accidents affect your car insurance rates

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FAQs

What is a “wet reckless” charge?

A “wet reckless” is when a driver charged with driving under the influence plea bargains it down to a reckless driving charge.

What’s the difference between reckless driving and negligent driving?

In Maryland, a driver who knowingly breaks a traffic law and puts other people and property at risk is guilty of reckless driving. Negligent driving is when a motorist acts carelessly, but doesn’t intend to drive dangerously.

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