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Help with a lost or missing citation

Here's what to do based on the type of citation. If you need to look up a specific portal, you can also start a search.

Lost your ticket or never received it?

For court traffic tickets (officer pulled you over):

Use the District Court's official Lost Citation form. Look up your citation number on Maryland Case Search first, then mail the form to the Annapolis processing center within 30 days.

Download DR-049O form (PDF)

For camera tickets (speed, red light, school bus, stop sign):

Camera citations are processed by the issuing agency, not by the District Court directly. To recover a lost camera citation:

  1. Call the agency's customer service line (the phone number on the portal card above).
  2. Give them your name and license plate, plus the approximate date and location if you remember.
  3. Request a duplicate notice. They'll mail it to you — it has the hearing-request form on the back if you also want to contest.
  4. Watch the deadline. Camera citations are typically due 30 days from the original mailing date, regardless of whether you have the paper. If you're close to the deadline, ask the agency whether they can extend it or take a hearing request verbally.

A few jurisdictions let you search by license plate online instead of calling: Baltimore City, Howard County, Harford County, and Prince George's County. For everywhere else, calling is the only option.

For parking tickets:

Each city or county runs its own parking citation system. Several (Baltimore City, Howard County, Harford County, Prince George's County) let you search by license plate online. For others, call the issuing agency.

For toll violations:

All Maryland tolls are handled by MDTA. Look up your account or violation at driveezmd.com or call 1-866-320-9995.

Want to contest the citation?

Most Maryland traffic citations — whether issued by an officer or by an automated camera — are contested the same way: by requesting a hearing in Maryland District Court. The mechanism is the same; only the form, deadline, and mailing address vary by citation type. By Maryland law, mail adjudication is not allowed.

The general process:

  1. Find the "Request a Hearing" or appeal-request form on the back of your citation notice.
  2. Complete and sign it, then mail it to the address printed on your citation before the deadline (usually at least 5 days before the citation due date).
  3. The issuing agency forwards your request to Maryland District Court. (For officer-written tickets, the form goes directly to the court.)
  4. The court mails you a notice with the date, time, and location of your hearing.
  5. Appear in court on the scheduled date, or pay the citation before then.

If you don't receive a court notice within 30 days, call the customer service number on your citation. For Maryland SafeZones (state work-zone cameras), that's 1-877-578-7440.

Where to send the form, by citation type:

  • Camera citations(speed, red light, school bus, stop sign): Mail the form on the back to the issuing agency's address printed on the citation. The agency forwards it to the court.
  • Court traffic tickets (officer pulled you over): Mail directly to the District Court at the address shown on the ticket within 30 days. If you've lost the citation, use the DR-049O Lost Citation form (PDF) instead.
  • Parking citations: Most jurisdictions require an informal written review through the parking office first, with a court hearing available as a follow-up. Procedures vary — check the agency page or call the phone number on your citation.
  • Toll violations: MDTA handles all Maryland tolls separately. Call 1-866-320-9995 or visit driveezmd.com for the formal dispute process.

If you weren't driving (transfer of liability):

You must request a court hearing first (using the steps above), then submit a sworn statement to the District Court before the hearing identifying the actual driver. Send the statement by certified mail in an envelope marked "Transfer of Liability." Include corroborating evidence: the driver's name, address, and license number, or a police report if the vehicle or plates were stolen.

Some counties also have an ombudsman who can review concerns about photo quality, stolen vehicles, or other transfer-of-liability questions before a court hearing. Call the customer service number on your citation to ask if your jurisdiction has one.

References: Maryland SafeZones FAQ · Maryland District Court Traffic Help. The process is required by Maryland Transportation Article §21-809.