PIKESVILLE – It’s been six months since the Maryland law banning cellphone usage while driving became more strict, and the number of drivers ticketed has more than tripled.
The change in state law makes driving while talking on a hand-held phone a primary offense, allowing police officers to stop a driver on Maryland roadways for just holding their phone.
And later this year, penalties for causing a serious or fatal car crash while talking on the phone or texting will increase, according to a measure Gov. Martin O’Malley signed into law Monday.
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Every day I see many drivers with the phone to their ear. It's obvious a lot of people just don't care. I don't think it's being enforced much as much as they should.
ReplyDeleteJust another tax and excuse to interrogate the driver and search vehicles. Article says in six months 14,490 people were charged. If everyone was a first offense @ $83, then the state issued $1.2 million dollars in fines. It's all about money.
ReplyDeleteGet them and ticket them.
ReplyDeleteIf not fining people for traffic violations is acceptable, then what should the penalties be? Jail? I mean since every law is about money right?
ReplyDeleteRich people have fancy cars that their phones connect with. The working many ain't got that, needs to talk to boss, supply store, client…gets caught trying to make a living, pays the tax. Some states don't fine/ticket/tax people for driving while using phones. Maybe those drivers are just better or smarter than the MD drivers.
ReplyDeletePull over, turn on the hazard lights and then talk. The life you save may just be your own.
ReplyDeleteThat's just as bad….then cops have another excuse to interrogate a driver…why are you stopped on side of road?
ReplyDeleteThe school Principal in Delaware who lost control of her vehicle was quite probably texting.To lose control of a vehicle and strike an embankment with enough force to cause her death suggests that she was seriously distracted while driving.From my understanding her vehicle was in perfect operating condition prior to the accident.
ReplyDeleteIt has absolutely NOTHING to do with your "safety". Nothing.
ReplyDeleteIts all about the money.
Thats the lowdown, the skinny, the final word and ---- the bottom line.
You think any cop or politician gives a rats ace about YOU? They want to be promoted. They want your money. If you live or die? THAT is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the list of their concerns.
On second thought, helping you with "dying" might be a little higher on a cop's list. The "promotion" part, you know....
Meanwhile Maryland State Troopers banging away at their laptops get into fatal accidents..rear ending innocent citizens
ReplyDeleteand they can do what they want..behavior change politics should include the behavior of the public service employed
@9:49 YOU ARE INCORRECT!!!! It is about Safety YOURS AND OTHERS!!!! I know people who have lost a child due to an IGNORANT person who thought it was ok to text and not pay attention to the road! I pray that you and your family never have to experience that tragedy cause you may actually open up your closed mind and realize that oh yeah it was about SAFETY!
ReplyDelete12:36....no, its not. Its about MONEY. If it WAS about safety, DUI convictions (plural) would result in the loss of your FREEDOM, not a $2500 fee to a laywer, a $2000 FINE (what was that word again? Fine?....uh huh....money), and some classes (by state workers, usually a retired cop, collecting a pension and getting some easy work again, from the state) that you PAY for. Not to mention the gaziilions your insurance company then collects, which it uses to "lobby" (bribe) your "representatives". Who has the closed mind?
ReplyDeleteWhats the punishment for texting while driving? Oh, right. A FINE. Oh yeah --- the real teeth is the (lol) ESCALATING fine. I mean, for citizens. I ask that because I can't see a cop that isn't on the phone while driving. If there is training for that, why can't citizens get it? And if there isn't, what special powers do cops have that citizens dont'?
And seat belt laws? Pushed through the legislature by the insurance lobby (and liberal bribery). To limit their exposure and payouts. And make the state several tons of money each year. I can get a hundred seat belt tickets a year and I still keep my license. As long as I pay the fine, the state doesn't care if NEVER wear it. Just as long as they get the money.
What was that you said about safety??
How about speed camera's? I can get 30 tickets a month from a speed camera (in a SCHOOL ZONE) and I don't even get any points!!! Just keep paying the FINE (thats the money part) and the state is happy, happy, happy!
Go over that safety thing again, one more time, please. I think I may have missed something.