Whether you are traveling to Baltimore to visit the inner harbor or driving out to New York to see a Broadway show, it is crucial for you to understand the similarities and subtle differences concerning both MD’s and NY’s approach to out-of-state traffic tickets.
Both Maryland and New York have signed onto the Driver’s License Compact. This means NY and MD freely share driver information with one another.
If you receive a NY traffic ticket but are a MD driver, MD will be notified about the ticket you received. This also applies if you are licensed in NY and got a ticket in MD.
For all minor out-of-state traffic offenses, MD will not add points onto your driver’s license.
This means you can receive a NY speeding ticket and not a single point will be put onto your MD driving record.
However, if you commit a serious out-of-state traffic offense, MD will put points on your license.
The following out-of-state offenses constitute major violations and will result in points being assessed against you:
(See Maryland Ann. Code, Transportation Article, Title 16, Subtitle 7.)
Nevertheless, even if points are not tacked onto your license, you still face serious consequences.
The offense will be put on your driving record, will serve as a red flag whenever you get pulled over in or out of MD, will cause your insurance rate to increase, and compel you to pay a fine.
New York treats out-of-state traffic offenses very similarly.
If you have a New York driver’s license and receive a Maryland traffic ticket, New York will not typically add points onto your driver’s license.
According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, “The NYSDMV does not record out-of-state violations committed by NYS drivers in other jurisdictions.”
Nonetheless, NY makes exceptions for alcohol-related violations, drug-related violations, and moving violations committed in Quebec or Ontario.
As such, if you are caught speeding in Maryland, points will not be added onto your New York driver’s license.
However, your insurance carrier will have the ability to raise your insurance rates due to the violation you committed.
If you are an out-of-state driver and accrue 11 points or more, you will lose your New York driving privileges.
This accumulation of 11 points will be determined based on the NY point system, not your home state’s point system.
Therefore, if you are caught speeding 41 miles over the posted speed limit or get cited twice for speeding 21-30 miles over the limit, you will no longer be allowed to drive in the State of New York for a specified period of time.
Remember, Maryland will not suspend your driver’s license and NY does not have the authority to suspend an out-of-state driver’s license.
However, since MD and NY are both members of the Driver’s License Compact, MD will honor the “suspension” of your New York driving privileges even though it will not take away your ability to drive elsewhere.
It is worth noting that no state can require you to pay a double fine and you will only be required to pay the state in which you received the ticket.
As such, if you got a NY traffic ticket, you will pay the State of New York. If you got a MD traffic ticket, you will pay the State of Maryland.
Although it might be tempting to simply plead guilty and pay the fine, doing so will not make these negative consequences go away. In fact, the conviction is the very thing that brings most of them on.
If you recently received a New York traffic ticket, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-883-5529.
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