BALTIMORE (AP) - Maryland police agencies have issued thousands of tickets to drivers for using hand-held cellphones behind the wheel in the year since a ban took effect.
Records from more than 70 police agencies in the state that participate in the Electronic Traffic Information Exchange show 4,021 warnings and 5,227 citations have been issued to drivers who failed to use a hands-free device since the ban went into effect in October 2010. More than half of those warnings and citations were issued by state troopers.
Drivers can be fined $40 for their first violations and $100 for subsequent ones. However, it is a secondary offense, meaning drivers can only be pulled over for another offense, such as running a red light.
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Secondary now, but like all the other controversial laws, once it is in place it will very quickly become a Primary offence. A very popular political gimmick like the "temporary" income tax.
ReplyDeleteToday I saw 1 State Trooper and 2 Deputies with their cell phones to their ears while driving. Are they exempt?
ReplyDeleteIt should be enforced, people just don't pay attention when driving let alone while using a cell phone. I've seen numerous time people drive right through a red light while talking on the cell phone or have a difficult time making a turn because they can't hold the phone and make the turn properly?
ReplyDeleteTo 11:16 PM
ReplyDeleteOf course they are... how could you even conceive the thought that the people who make laws and enforce them actually have to follow them...
That's absurd...
There shouldn't be any WARNINGS. They just need to write the ticket!
ReplyDeleteI think these violaters have been warned enough!