…and what you can do about it!
If you are unable to renew your driver’s license due to a traffic ticket in Maryland, it may be because Maryland has placed a hold or your home state driving record.
Your home state may belong to the Driver License Compact (DLC) or the Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC).
- Reciprocity: Many states share driving record information. If you have an unpaid ticket, or a failure to appear in Maryland, then Maryland may have notified your home state. This action may have blocked you when you tried to renew your license.
- Maryland flags (or places a hold): The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) places holds on out-of-state driving records for unresolved violations. These violations may include, speeding, red-light, or other moving violations. A Maryland hold may prevent license renewals or vehicle registrations.
- Suspension Status: If the Maryland citation led to a license suspension in Maryland, your home state will usually refuse to renew your license until that suspension hold is lifted.
What you can do to lift the Hold
Contact your home state DMV to confirm the specific case number and county in Maryland that is causing the hold. You can then send a request to contest the ticket that is causing the hold. However, there is also another cost-efficient way to resolve this…
Consider hiring a Maryland traffic lawyer to help resolve the problem.
Benefits of hiring a traffic lawyer:
- Legal Representation – An attorney can take the necessary steps to resolve your license hold.
- Legal Knowledge – You will have a highly trained legal professional. Someone who understands the specifics of traffic violation law and also each local Maryland county court system.
- A Skilled Negotiator – A good lawyer can negotiate with the State prosecutor (or law enforcement). And possibly even have the original charges dismissed.