Speeding, Traffic Stops on the Rise With Less Crowded Freeways

The coronavirus pandemic has brought about a lot of negative issues, such as sickness, death, lost jobs, distance learning, empty shelves at grocery stores and many other unexpected effects. However, many people look at the bright side: they are spending more time with family, they are engaging in new hobbies and traffic on the roadways is minimal.

For many, their commute to work may now be cut in half. However, to get to work in record time, many drivers are exceeding the speed limit—and not just by 5 or 10 miles per hour. Many drivers are going 90 or even 100 miles per hour or faster on roadways with speed limits of 65 miles per hour. This excessive speed can cause a person to have driver’s license issues beyond the average speeding ticket.

Law enforcement officials in Maryland are starting to increase enforcement on commonly traveled roads such as Interstate 70. While traffic volume is down by 4%, excess speed has spiked dramatically. Between March 16 and April 17, 69% of speeding tickets were for drivers going 20 miles per hour or more beyond the speed limit. During that same time period, more than 375 motorists were exceeding 90 miles per hour.

This excess speed has not only police officers, but other motorists concerned as well. Drivers feel unsafe when others are whizzing past them at speeds of 100 miles per hour. Plus, Interstate 70 has seen an increase in semi truck crashes due to the increased speed.

From May 12-15, state troopers increased patrols on Interstate 70 and made 276 traffic stops. They issued 149 citations and another 149 warnings. In all, they wrote 68 speeding tickets. Forty of those were for drivers traveling at speeds above 80 miles per hour. Troopers performed 146 semi truck inspections. Thirteen vehicles and eight drivers were placed out of service for safety and equipment violations.

Four drivers had suspended licenses. In Maryland, driving with a suspended license can lead to fines and jail time. The first offense is generally $500 and two months in jail. For a second offense, the fine doubles to $1,000 and a person can spend one year in jail. Those penalties double for a third offense. That’s why it’s important to deal with a suspended license early rather than waiting.

Contact a Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

Too many points on your driving record, unpaid speeding tickets and drinking and driving are just one of the ways in which you can have driver’s license issues. Once your license is suspended or revoked, it can be difficult to get it valid again.

Losing your driver’s license can be problematic. It can affect your life in many ways. Get help from the Columbia criminal lawyers at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. He can help you deal with this issue quickly and effectively. A restricted license and other options may be available, depending on your situation. To schedule a free consultation, call our office at (410) 774-5987 or fill out the online form.

Resource:

wbaltv.com/article/speeding-maryland-state-police-interstate-70-special-enforcement/32494332#

https://www.marylandlawhelp.com/what-is-doctor-shopping/

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