Maryland Criminal Defense · Baltimore City · Baltimore County · Statewide
Maryland Criminal Defense · Baltimore City · Baltimore County · Statewide
Reckless driving in Maryland is a criminal misdemeanor — not a routine traffic ticket. A conviction means up to 60 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, six points on your license, and a permanent record. Allan Rombro defends reckless, aggressive, and negligent driving charges across Maryland.
Tell us what happened. Available 24/7.
🔒 Confidential & no obligation. Your information is never shared.
A serious or routine traffic charge can have high impact on your life. Whether it’s a reckless driving allegation, aggressive driving charge, or a ticket for excessive speed, your best defense is an experienced Maryland traffic attorney who will examine every aspect of your case — not someone who tells you to just pay the fine and move on.
Reckless driving in Maryland is defined under Transportation Code § 21-901.1 as operating a motor vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. As of October 2025 under the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act, speeding 30 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit is now explicitly included in the definition of reckless driving.
One traffic ticket too many can cause your insurance rates to increase dramatically and may lead to the loss of your driver’s license. Many traffic citations, however, can be overcome or the charge reduced through representation by an experienced attorney. Our firm has had strong results obtaining reduced penalties for clients — including reductions to negligent driving, which carries only 1 point and no criminal record.
In many traffic cases, you will not even have to appear in court. The Law Offices of Allan Rombro will handle it on your behalf.
🔒 Confidential · No obligation
Since October 2025 under the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act, speeding 30 mph or more over the posted limit is expressly defined as reckless driving under Maryland law — triggering the full criminal penalties regardless of road conditions.
Speed that is unsafe for weather, road conditions, traffic, or visibility — even well under the posted speed limit — can be charged as reckless driving. Officers have broad discretion to apply the charge when conditions make the speed clearly dangerous.
Following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, given the speed of traffic and road conditions, is both a standalone violation and one of the qualifying offenses for an aggressive driving charge when combined with other violations.
Erratic or repeated lane changes without signaling, cutting off other drivers, or weaving through traffic are common bases for both reckless and aggressive driving charges — particularly when combined with high speed.
Failing to stop at red lights or stop signs, particularly when combined with speed or other dangerous maneuvers, is a qualifying offense for aggressive driving and can independently support a reckless driving charge depending on circumstances.
Failure to yield at intersections, to pedestrians in crosswalks, or when merging into traffic can constitute reckless driving — especially when the failure results in a near-miss or an accident. It is also a qualifying offense for aggressive driving.
Overtaking another vehicle at a railroad crossing is specifically cited in Maryland case law as an example of reckless driving behavior — the potential consequences of a collision with a train make the risk wanton as a matter of law.
Using a phone, eating, or other distractions while simultaneously committing speed or lane violations can elevate a standard traffic stop into a reckless or aggressive driving charge. Officers increasingly cite distraction as part of the reckless driving narrative.
Every traffic violation in Maryland adds points to your driving record with the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). Points accumulate within a two-year period and determine whether you face mandatory driver improvement programs, license suspension, or full revocation. A reckless driving conviction adds 6 points in a single charge — the highest possible for a non-DUI traffic offense.
Allan Rombro will examine every aspect of your case to determine how to proceed. In many civil traffic cases — such as speeding or running a red light — the police officer never bothers to appear in court. There may also be discrepancies in the way the ticket was written compared to the officer’s narrative. Our firm actively seeks to use these discrepancies and other strategies to obtain a positive outcome.
Our firm has had strong results obtaining reduced penalties for clients in return for participation in a driver improvement program — and in many cases, charges are reduced or dismissed entirely. In many traffic violation cases, you will not have to appear in court yourself.
Have a question not answered here? Email Allan Rombro for a free, confidential consultation — available 24/7.
Yes. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor criminal offense in Maryland under Transportation Code § 21-901.1 — not a simple traffic infraction. A conviction can result in up to 60 days in jail, a fine up to $1,000, six points on your license, mandatory enrollment in a Driver Improvement Program, and a permanent criminal record. Paying the fine without contesting the charge is treated as an automatic guilty plea.
A reckless driving conviction adds 6 points to your driving record — the highest for any non-DUI traffic offense in Maryland. Accumulating 5–7 points requires a Driver Improvement Program. 8–11 points triggers suspension. 12 or more points results in revocation. Six points from a single reckless driving conviction can push a driver who already has points into suspension territory immediately.
Yes, and this is one of the most important outcomes an experienced attorney can achieve. Negligent driving carries only 1 point, a fine up to $240, and no criminal record — compared to reckless driving’s 6 points, up to $1,000 fine, up to 60 days jail, and misdemeanor conviction. The difference in impact on your license, insurance premiums, and record is dramatic. Allan Rombro pursues this outcome aggressively in appropriate cases.
Reckless driving involves operating a vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for safety — or speeding 30+ mph over the limit. Aggressive driving is charged when a driver commits three or more specific moving violations simultaneously or during a continuous period of driving — such as speeding combined with tailgating and an improper lane change. Both are criminal misdemeanors, but aggressive driving requires proof of multiple concurrent violations while reckless driving can be based on a single dangerous act.
The sooner you act, the stronger your defense. Free consultation, available 24/7.
Speak directly with Allan Rombro. Available 24 hours.
🔒 Confidential & no obligation. Your information is never shared.