Driver convicted after Frederick Town trial on speeding and seat-belt charges; judge declines school‑zone enhancement

A Frederick Town Municipal Court judge found the driver of a gray Toyota Tacoma guilty of exceeding the speed limit and of operating without a seat belt after a contested trial on Jan. 20, 2026.

Officer Goodman of the Frederick Police Department testified that he visually estimated the truck’s speed at about 35 mph as it passed an active 20 mph school‑zone sign and then used his rear radar to confirm and “lock” a reading of 34 miles per hour, the officer said. Prosecutors introduced calibration and tuning‑fork documentation for the radar equipment and an aerial image of the roadway to show the sign and the officer’s position.

Defense counsel challenged whether the radar reading could be reliably attributed to the defendant’s vehicle and noted the original citation at the stop listed only a seat‑belt violation; the speeding allegation was added later. The defense also pointed out that the seat belt was observed when the vehicle had already stopped.

The judge credited Officer Goodman’s testimony that he waited for slower traffic to pass and used a directional rear radar antenna to confirm the speed, and found the evidence sufficient to prove the amended speeding allegation and the seat‑belt violation beyond a reasonable doubt. The judge said the court would follow the standard fine schedule and set the combined fines and costs at $200, payable to the clerk.

However, the judge declined the prosecution’s request (by amendment) to treat the speeding as a school‑zone enhancement with doubled fines because that enhancement had not been included in the original charging document and the defendant therefore had not received formal notice. The judge explicitly stated that the speeding conviction would stand but that the school‑zone doubling would not be applied.

The defendant was directed to pay the fines and court costs at the clerk’s window; the judge also reserved restitution for 63 days in case out‑of‑pocket accident claims were later submitted.

Officer Goodman and the prosecutor who presented the case were the only witnesses called at trial. The defendant declined to testify and the defense rested after cross‑examination.