Traffic Violation(s) Payment Plans

Step 2: File the request

• File the Request for Traffic Violation(s) Payment Plan for District Court cases in District Court.
• Visit mdcourts.gov/district/directories/courtmap for District Court locations.

Step 3: Receive notification on status of request

• The clerk will notify you if your request for a payment plan is approved or denied based on whether the outstanding fine(s) you list can be confirmed as eligible and total at least $150.00.

Step 4: Make payments on approved plan

• Refer to your Payment Plan Number located at the top right of your agreement whenever you make a payment or have a question. 
• Your first payment is due 30 days after the clerk approves your request and once a month for the nine months after that on the date noted on the agreement.  
• Payments should be made in person or through the mail to the court address where your plan was approved; however, payments can be accepted at any District Court location. Allow sufficient time before the due date if you are sending by mail. 
• You can pay by cash or credit card in person or by check in the mail. Plan payments cannot be paid online, on the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, or at MVA kiosks. 
• If your due date falls on a day when the court is closed, your payment is due by 4:30 pm on the next business day.

Can I request a payment plan for outstanding fine(s) in District and Circuit Court?

District Court payment plan agreements apply to outstanding traffic fines owed to the District Court of Maryland. Payment plan agreements do NOT apply to fines owed to any Circuit Court. Contact the Circuit Court with respect to your ability for an installment payment plan in Circuit Court.

Are red light camera citations eligible for payment plans?

Red light, speed monitoring, work zone, vehicle height, school bus camera, toll, and parking citations are not eligible for payment plans.
Parking citations issued on a statewide DR 49 Traffic Citation are eligible.

Can I request a payment plan and still go to court?

If you are planning to go to court for any citation(s) do not include those citation(s) in your request. Payment is considered an admission of guilt and points may be assessed by the MVA.

A family member or friend also has outstanding traffic fines; can we combine the fine amounts into one request?

No. All requests must be for one individual. 

Can I make a payment for more than the amount or before the due date?

There is no penalty for prepayments, however, the remaining payments must be made under the original terms of the payment plan until the balance is fully paid.

What happens if I miss a payment, or my payment is returned due to a bad check or dishonored credit card payment?

Payments received after the due date will be accepted, however, the court may refer the amount of the unpaid outstanding fine to the Central Collection Unit (CCU) which may result in an additional collection fee of 17% as permitted by law. 

Payment by bad check or dishonored credit card will cause the payment plan to be voided and the remaining balance to be due. The court may refer the amount of the unpaid outstanding fine to the Central Collection Unit (CCU).

If referred to CCU, you must pay all outstanding fines to CCU, not to the court. The court will no longer be able to accept your payment.

Can I get an extension to pay after the payment due date?

No. You must make timely payments as stated in your payment plan agreement. If you fail to make a payment by the due date or the total fine amount when due, the court may refer the amount of the unpaid outstanding fine to the Central Collection Unit (CCU), which may result in an additional collection fee of 17% as permitted by law. You must then pay all outstanding fines to CCU. The court will no longer be able to accept your payment.

You cannot request another payment plan for the same citations unless you file a motion (Form DC-002) directed to a District Court judge. It will be up to the judge to grant or deny your request. 

What can I do if my request is denied?

If you have information that you believe would change your eligibility for a payment plan, you must submit a new request (DCA-131) for consideration. If your request is denied by the clerk, you can file a motion to reconsider to have a judge review your request. If the motion to reconsider is denied, you can file an appeal. Contact the clerk's office for more information.

What happens if I fail to satisfy the terms of the payment plan?

If your request for a payment plan is approved and you and do not pay in accordance with the agreement, the court may refer the amount of the unpaid outstanding fine to the Central Collection Unit (CCU), which may result in an additional collection fee of 17% as permitted by law. You must then pay all outstanding fines to CCU. The court will no longer be able to accept your payment.

Why is my license still suspended if I satisfied the payment plan?

Even if you have a payment plan and make all of the payments, the MVA may still suspend your license or privileges due to an accumulation of points.

Who do I contact if I have questions about the status of my license or driving privileges?

The MVA is responsible for the administration of driver's licenses. For information regarding the status of your license, contact the MVA directly.

Rev. 01/13/2020