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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Md. bill would ticket drivers who block 4-way intersections


ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Drivers who enter an intersection but fail to cross it by the time the light turns red would be subject to a ticket and fine under a “don’t block the box” bill that’s advancing through the General Assembly.

The goal of the bill is to address the problem of traffic congestion, to make the state’s roadways and intersections safer and to increase the road capacity during busy hours, said Del. Al Carr, D-Montgomery County.

Both Carr and Capt. Thomas Didone, director of the traffic division of the Montgomery County police, pointed out a handful of intersections in Montgomery County where blocking the box affects the flow of traffic, including Georgia Avenue and Seminary Road; Connecticut Avenue and Knowles Avenue; Connecticut Avenue near Bradley Lane; and Md. 355 and Md. 124.

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20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes - Mill Street and 50 please!!

Anonymous said...

I like this law!
Impossible to get across the highway in the Summer due to Ocean City Traffic, or rush hour traffic blocking the intersection at Mill street and Rt 50. Instead of driving further up to turn on Rt 13, everyone is trying to bottleneck to Camden Avenue, or Riverside Drive. Few access roads for these people and the backup can completely block traffic on Fifty even when the light is green.

Anonymous said...

OMG Salisbury's money problems are over if this happens just on the intersection by the river where Camden ave. , Riverside dr. , and Carrol st. meet. Oh wait, cops will have to be there and actually see it. Never mind.

Anonymous said...

Hit those idiots that just have to get somewhere 10 seconds sooner in the pocketbook a couple times and maybe they will get the message.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, more laws, tickets, revenue and searches. How is the traffic going to be when a cop has 1-4 cars pulled over on the other side of the intersection to write tickets and do k-9 scans with a minimum of 2 other backup cop cars there with flashing lights? Boy, that will keep traffic moving right along.....

Anonymous said...

Oh please do this at Beaglin Park Dr and Rt 50!!!!!!!!!!

Jim said...

Finally.
This is a BASIC driving rule-- you don't enter an intersection until you can clear the intersection (that means make it all the way through to the other side.)
Maybe it will be a money-maker, but maybe it will make a point and significantly reduce the frequency of this occurring.
Let's hope so.

Anonymous said...

Nothing will change with passage of the law. Heck, cops just watch people run red lights and stop signs now. Even if a cop is on the scene when there is a violation of the new law (if it passes), they won't enforce it unless the driver is profiled and suspected of a more serious crime. A grand waste of time....

Anonymous said...

Why pass another law that won't be enforced? Just look at all the drivers on their cell phones. Enforce the laws we have now . The drivers blocking these intersections now are probably on their cell phones

Anonymous said...

Most cities that enforce this are required to paint grids in the intersections to indicate where a vehicle can and cannot be so that there is no subjective interpretations. Who is going to pay for the costs of the designing the plans, getting them approved by the various entities responsible for state, county and city streets, road crews, paint, etc.? The tax payers.

Anonymous said...

OOH OOH OOH can we get tickets if our hair isnt just right too!?!?!

Anonymous said...

This is a giant pet peeve of mine and I still don't want a new law about it. So sick of all the new laws and regulations.

Anonymous said...

3:34 There will be more accidents if the cops stop vehicles to write tix for blocking an intersection. Every time cops have a car pulled over it causes a backup. Also, the wico scanner junkies broadcasting it on FB will help too, NOT. They were live streaming a bad accident the other day. All fun and games until it is your family member's car and you get to watch them die on facebook.

Anonymous said...

Should Already be the Law.....

and another thing > There needs to be a Nat'l Law about
the Passing Lane > it is for Passing, then get the Hell out of it and move over to the Right > or Get a TICKET !!!!

Anonymous said...

Put Stop lights were needed too....plenty of places need them ....and Govt don't care or want to do it

Stop lights cheaper than damn Round-abouts !!!

Anonymous said...

7:39 Stress leads to heart attacks and strokes. Slow down and enjoy life before it's over. Doing the speed limit in any lane of travel is legal, speeding is not in any of lane of travel.

Anonymous said...

Just like NYC, don't block the box.

Anonymous said...

selfish morons >> get out of damn Passing Lanes !!!

you are more Danger than anyone going fast !!! Fact

Learn how to drive or get off the road !!!

Anonymous said...

The reason that motorists block intersections is usually where the green interval is too short to clear the waiting traffic. I've seen intersections that take 3 and 4 light cycles to get through. Under those conditions, people will do what people do. No law will change that. Only a change to the highway design or traffic flow control will fix that problem. Do these legislators even have a brain? Blocking an intersection is a SYMPTOM, not the problem.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
Should Already be the Law.....

and another thing > There needs to be a Nat'l Law about
the Passing Lane > it is for Passing, then get the Hell out of it and move over to the Right > or Get a TICKET !!!!

February 22, 2017 at 7:39 PM

it already is a law and has been for decades, it's just not enforced often. and the speed limit is the same for both lanes. and people are legally allowed to go under the speed LIMIT. just as some states have made it legal to "accidently" hit protesters who block the streets, they should enact a law making it legal to run people out of any lane who is impeding traffic, blocking others in so they can't progress, who speed up so you can't pass or get over, tailgate, brake check, and any other asinine behavior. is it any wonder we are seeing people getting shot on the highways?