Annapolis Alderman DaJuan Gay pleaded guilty to two minor traffic citations at an expedited hearing Monday, resolving the legal troubles he had faced in recent weeks.
An open bench warrant had been issued for the 22-year-old Ward 6 alderman Aug. 23 after Gay failed to appear at a court date to resolve citations that were issued to him during a traffic stop for driving 91 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 97 and driving on a suspended license.
On Dec. 26, Gay said he had been unaware of the open bench warrant, adding that he planned to resolve the issue. The next day, he was arrested and released by Maryland State Police.
Richard Duden III, an Anne Arundel County District Court associate judge, presided over the hearing Monday. He reduced the excessive speeding citation down to 75 mph in a 65 mph zone, which came to a $100 fine and two points on Gay’s license. Gay received probation before judgment and a $100 fine for driving on a suspended license.
The Ward 6 alderman paid the fines and court costs immediately following the hearing, said Annapolis attorney Scott MacMullan, who represents Gay.
The Annapolis-based blog, Eye On Annapolis, first reported the ruling.
Gay, who became the youngest Annapolis City Council member ever in July, said he was glad to put the legal issues behind him.
“I’m extremely grateful that we were able to get those things cleared up,” said Gay, adding that he got his license reinstated last week.
His client had not received notice for the August court date because he had moved in May around the time of the traffic stop, MacMullan said.
“Mr. Gay takes full responsibility for his speeding and for not being more proactive about his case. He apologizes for his mistakes,” MacMullan said in a statement. “Mr. Gay’s traffic citations are some of the most common, and ultimately minor, citations citizens receive.”
MacMullan continued: “It is important to understand that there are two types of driving on a suspended license citations in Maryland. One is jail-able and the other one is subject to fines with no potential for jail. It is all-too-common that citizens are charged with the jail-able driving on a suspended license charge when in reality their citations are merely administrative in nature, and, therefore, subject to fines, not jail. This is what happened to Mr. Gay.”
While moving could have been one of the reasons, it’s not an excuse, Gay said.
“There was just a lot going on at that time. I had just come off the election and I had just gone back to school the 23rd. I had a lot going on but that’s no excuse,” he said.
