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Monday, April 08, 2013

Legislators Strengthen Distracted Driving Law

Maryland lawmakers have strengthened distracted driving laws.

The General Assembly passed a measure on Monday to make talking on a handheld cellphone while driving a vehicle a primary offense. Under the bill, a police officer could pull over a driver for talking on a handheld while the vehicle is in motion.

A driver who is talking on a handheld cellphone at a red light when the vehicle isn't moving could not be ticketed.

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is a Big Mac considered a handheld device?

Anonymous said...

Well they better police their own first!!!

Anonymous said...

Gee thanks for looking out for our safety. Lawmakers you must really care about us.

Anonymous said...

About time.

lmclain said...

Distracted driving?? So our role model is the 73 year old woman who leaves Dover for Accomack, immediately getting into the left lane, driving 40 MPH, death grip on the wheel, never looking in the rear view mirror (too distracting) and eyes locked ahead, paying attention to nothing but whats 20 feet or less in front of her? WHO keeps coming up with this stuff? Have they squeezed the last dollars from the citizens and now must REALLY think hard about the next law to punish citizens, no matter how inane the reasoning? What's next? Take radio's and CD players out of cars? Ban eating while driving? Ticket you for turning around to see what the kids are doing in the back seat? The saddest thing? We have an ARMY of armed enforcers to make sure we are "safe" and YOUR definition doesn't matter.. Who, ironically, will kill you for not being "safe". They will also kill you for trying to approach the people who keep coming up with this Orwellian matrix of "safety" laws and regulations. I wish they would just come out and say "Being politicians, we are the stupidest of humans. We keep thinking that 2 + 2 = 45 billion. We can't stop spending and now need more of your money, so here's some new laws to accomplish that." That MIGHT, at least, garner some respect. Maybe. I still believe a rope around their neck is the best way to stop them.

Anonymous said...

Revenue could be quickly gained by actually doing writing tickets for this primary offense. I won't believe it until I see cars, trucks, etc. pulled, in a line, on the side of road waiting for their ticket. I usually am on the north side of Salisbury, and I can sit at any traffice light and see people, all ages, both sexes, cell phone in hand just talking away. Some will be talking on the cellphone and eating a hamburger at the same time. I don't see the third arm and hand, but am thinking it must be there somewhere!

Anonymous said...

Ever see a cop driving that's NOT on the phone?