Understanding Bail Bonds for Traffic Cases
As Baltimore County Bail Bondsmen, we are always in the Towson Commissioners office taking notice of citizens reporting to the District Court Commissioner to be read their rights after recently being issued traffic tickets by the police. When pulled over in Maryland and you have been issued traffic citations, and at least one carries the possibility of jail time, you are instructed to report to the commissioner within 3 days.
The primary purpose of reporting is to learn your rights and be told that you are looking at a possible jail sentence if convicted of the charge. The confusing thing for most people is that often times you will get multiple tickets, but not every ticket carries a possible jail sentence. Some tickets, such as speeding, negligent driving, or fail to stop at stop sign are all payable citations. You can either pay the tickets, or fight them in court.
Many people think that if they pay their traffic tickets, they do not have to show up to court. Very few take into consideration that they have at least one "must appear" traffic offense that they cannot just simply pay. Examples of "must appear" traffic offenses are: DUI's, DWI's driving while license is suspended or revoked, driving an uninsured vehicle etc. If you do not show up to court for this type of an offense a judge will issue a bench warrant for your arrest.
By paying non-jailable traffic citations in advance you are admitting guilt to those offenses. If you have to show up for the "must appear" traffic citation anyway it makes most sense to fight all traffic citations at the same time. It is very possible a judge could waive or lower a fine at the time of court. So get a quality Maryland Traffic Attorney to fight it on your behalf.
If you happened to miss court for a "must appear" traffic offense, please call our Baltimore Bail Bonds Office to learn about the quickest turn-in and bail out service around. We promise to be able to get your Baltimore County warrants served and your bail posted quicker than any other bondsman in the state.
