Published on 7/15/2026, 12:17:00 PM
How Much Over the Speed Limit Is a Felony in Maryland?
Here’s the short answer: there is no number. In Maryland, no amount of speed over the posted limit turns a speeding ticket into a felony. Not 20 over, not 30 over, not 50 over.
That surprises a lot of drivers, especially people who commute through Virginia, where crossing a specific speed threshold automatically becomes a criminal charge. Maryland doesn’t work that way. But before you exhale, keep reading, because “not a felony” is not the same as “not a big deal.” Since October 1, 2025, driving 30 mph or more over the limit in Maryland can land you in jail.
Speeding Itself Is a Traffic Violation, Not a Crime
A standard Maryland speeding ticket under Transportation Section 21-801.1 is a payable citation. You get a fine, the MVA assesses points, and your insurance company takes notice. Nobody gets fingerprinted over a basic speeding ticket, and it doesn’t create a criminal record.
The points scale with how fast you were going, and enough points in a two year window can trigger an MVA suspension or revocation. If your license is what pays your bills, that’s often the real fight, and it’s one a Maryland speeding ticket lawyer handles regularly.
30 MPH Over: The Line Where Jail Enters the Picture
Maryland’s rules changed with the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act, which took effect on October 1, 2025. The law was named for a Montgomery County police officer who lost both legs after being struck by a driver traveling over 100 mph.
Under the Act, driving 30 mph or more over the posted limit now qualifies as reckless driving under Transportation Section 21-901.1. That matters for three reasons:
- Jail is now possible. Reckless driving carries up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Before the Kepp Act, reckless driving was a fine-only offense.
- You must appear in court. Excessive speed reckless driving is a must-appear offense. You can’t just mail in a payment and move on.
- The points stack up fast. A reckless driving conviction carries 6 points, and driving 30 or more over the limit can add another 6. Twelve points means revocation.
We break down the full penalty structure on our excessive speed 30 over page, and we covered the Kepp Act changes in detail when the new reckless driving law passed.
Even with all of that, reckless driving is still a misdemeanor. Serious, jailable, and worth fighting, but not a felony.
So When Does Speed Actually Become a Felony in Maryland?
Speed alone never does. A felony enters the picture when speed contributes to killing someone.
Manslaughter by vehicle, Criminal Law Section 2-209. If a person causes the death of another by driving in a grossly negligent manner, that’s manslaughter by vehicle, a felony carrying up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. A repeat conviction raises the ceiling to 15 years and $10,000. Extreme speed is one of the most common facts prosecutors point to when arguing gross negligence.
Criminally negligent manslaughter, Criminal Law Section 2-210. This is the lower rung, where the driver should have perceived a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death but failed to. A first offense is a misdemeanor with up to 3 years. It only becomes a felony, with up to 5 years, if the driver has a prior conviction for one of the listed vehicular offenses.
The difference between Section 2-209 and Section 2-210 often comes down to how a jury reads the driving itself: how fast, where, and what the driver knew. Those distinctions decide whether someone is facing a felony or a misdemeanor, which is exactly the terrain we covered in our post on DUI manslaughter charges.
One more nuance worth knowing: if speed causes a serious injury but nobody dies and alcohol isn’t involved, Maryland has no felony charge that fits. The State’s options are traffic offenses like reckless driving or, in the right facts, reckless endangerment. That gap surprises people on both sides of these cases.
What About Fleeing From Police?
Speeding up when an officer signals you to stop is a different animal. Fleeing and eluding under Transportation Section 21-904 is a criminal offense carrying up to a year in jail for a first offense, and up to 10 years if the flight results in someone’s death. It also carries 12 points, which is automatic revocation territory. If your speed case includes a fleeing allegation, treat it as a criminal defense matter from day one.
What a High-Speed Ticket Actually Costs You
Because Maryland doesn’t criminalize speed by threshold, the practical damage usually shows up in three places:
- Your record and license. Points, potential MVA suspension, and a must-appear court date for 30 over.
- Your wallet. Fines are the small part. Insurance surcharges after a reckless driving conviction follow you for years.
- Your job. CDL holders, government employees, and anyone whose position requires a clean record can lose far more than the fine.
The good news is that these charges are defensible. Officers have to prove the speed, the equipment, and the stop itself. We covered common angles in how to beat a speeding ticket, and for charges carrying jail exposure, a reckless driving lawyer can often negotiate the charge down to something that protects your record.
If your real question is whether jail is on the table for your specific ticket, we answered that one directly in can you go to jail for speeding in Maryland.
FAQs
Q: Is going 100 mph a felony in Maryland?
A: No. Even triple-digit speed is not a felony by itself. It will almost certainly be charged as reckless driving, which since October 2025 carries up to 60 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a mandatory court appearance. It becomes a felony only if that driving kills someone and the State proves gross negligence under Criminal Law Section 2-209.
Q: Is 30 over the speed limit a criminal charge in Maryland?
A: It can be. Under the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act, driving 30 mph or more over the limit qualifies as reckless driving, a jailable misdemeanor that requires a court appearance. Our Maryland serious traffic lawyer page covers what to expect at that hearing.
Q: Does a reckless driving conviction give me a criminal record?
A: Reckless driving is a misdemeanor traffic offense, and a conviction shows up on your Maryland driving record with 6 points. It is not a felony, but it can affect employment, insurance, and CDL eligibility, which is why most people fight it rather than plead to it.
Q: Can speeding ever lead to prison time in Maryland?
A: Yes, in two situations. Reckless driving now carries up to 60 days in jail. And if excessive speed causes a death, manslaughter by vehicle under Criminal Law Section 2-209 is a felony punishable by up to 10 years.
If you’re facing a must-appear speeding citation, a reckless driving charge, or anything more serious, contact us for a free consultation. We handle these cases in every county in Maryland.
