What Is a Traffic Citation Warning?

Traffic violations are common civil offenses.

Many people who drive on a regular basis worry about the potential possibility of getting pulled over. While receiving a traffic citation warning usually does not result in a fine, it should still be considered a serious warning.

Definition

A traffic citation warning is a verbal or written warning issued by a police officer in the event of a traffic violation. Citation warnings can be issued for a variety of offenses including speeding, illegal parking and reckless driving,

Misconceptions

Many people mistakenly believe that a traffic citation warning can lead to a fine or jail time. The fact of the matter is that traffic citation warnings are just that: warnings. A warning is different from a ticket in that it has no inherent consequences.

Aftermath

Some traffic citation warnings -- such as written warnings -- are documented by the police department. Repeat offenses can often lead to tickets that can include fines and other consequences.

References

• District Court of Maryland: Traffic Citation Information
• FindLaw: Traffic Tickets

Resources

• Department of Motor Vehicles: Paying Your Traffic Ticket