New Maryland Law - Wireless COMM Devices

[somdforever]

Just rec'd an e-mail fron Del. Bohanan about what was accomplished during the 2013 Legislative session in Annapolis. Included in his letter is this:

"Motor Vehicles – Use of Wireless Communication Device makes it a primary offense for fully licensed adult drivers, for the driver’s hands to use a handheld telephone while operating a motor vehicle in the travel portion of the roadway. The bill increases the penalties for the offenses and establishes that the offenses are treated as a typical traffic offense. Accordingly, a violator is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a maximum penalty of $500 and the assessment of points against the driver’s license."

I didn't even know it was being considered! I have to believe this applies not only to texting but just talking on your cell phone?

 

[aps45819]

"Motor Vehicles – Use of Wireless Communication Device makes it a primary offense for fully licensed adult drivers, for the driver’s hands to use a handheld telephone while operating a motor vehicle in the travel portion of the roadway.

I have to believe this applies not only to texting but just talking on your cell phone?

Why is the term "handheld" so confusing?

 

[TPD]

And next year they will pass the cell phone camera law, authorizing cameras to be placed on roadways to take a picture of the violators texting and talking and mail the citations to them.

 

[wittykitty]

I hope this is enough to stop violators and I hope that the maximum penalty is exercised to the fullest. During the last couple of days, two cars have crossed the center line and headed towards me. Our local roads have become very scary..or at least they are to me. Maybe we'll get lucky and someone will be able to fix our dangerous intersections and penalize those who run red-lights.
End of rant.

 

[GURPS]

you cannot legislate an end of stupidity or evil

 

[DooDoo1402]

It is already a federal offense to use your cell phone (hand held) while driving on base. Although I've never seen it enforced. I still see tons of drivers still driving with hand and cell in the ear. I don't know why this can't be enforced. A cop could easily spend his day pulling over violators along 235. Perhaps they should confiscate the cell phone with the violation ticket. THAT would get attention!

C'mon cell phone people, hands-free works and doesn't cost that much!

 

[thurley42]

Hooray for more laws!!!!

 

[glhs837]

Thats what kills me, I see tons of people driving in machines I know the capability is either standard or optional, and they are doing the hand to head thing. And even if it isnt, a damn module that clips to your visor and acts just as good costs about $30, so if you can afford the 38K SUV your driving, I know you can afford $30 for handsfree.

 

[GopherM]

Will it be enough to keep the law oficers off their cellphones?

 

[MMDad]

What gets me is that the dangerous actions that phones contribute to are already against the law. If we had better enforcement of the existing laws like lane drifting, running lights, tailgating, etc. we wouldn't need a phone law. The people who are talking on the phone aren't a problem because they are holding the phone up, they are a problem because they are paying more attention to the call than the road. Bluetooth doesn't solve that. Take away their phones and they'll still be the ones reading, eating, putting on makeup, shaving, and so on.

 

[MMDad]

Will it be enough to keep the law oficers off their cellphones?

They are exempted by law.

 

[dan0623_2000]

New law

Why is it only hand held cell phones? Studies after studies have show that hands free cell phones are just as dangerous. When will people realize you can not regulate stupidity. Using any kind of device that distracts you from your driving is illegal. It is called reckless driving and that is exactly what people using their hands free devices are doing.
But then Mr Bohanan would not be able to tell people how great he is in helping to pass these stupid feel good laws.
And for you never say anything bad about our LEOs they should not be exempt from the law. They should be pulling over to the side to take and receive calls. I have almost been hit twice by LEOs that were not paying attention to their driving while chatting on their cell phones. And yes I did make formal complaints to the appropriate department.
Have a good day

 

[h3mech]

Just rec'd an e-mail fron Del. Bohanan about what was accomplished during the 2013 Legislative session in Annapolis. Included in his letter is this:

"Motor Vehicles – Use of Wireless Communication Device makes it a primary offense for fully licensed adult drivers, for the driver’s hands to use a handheld telephone while operating a motor vehicle in the travel portion of the roadway. The bill increases the penalties for the offenses and establishes that the offenses are treated as a typical traffic offense. Accordingly, a violator is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to a maximum penalty of $500 and the assessment of points against the driver’s license."

I didn't even know it was being considered! I have to believe this applies not only to texting but just talking on your cell phone?

I saw a cop yesterday with a phone in his ear, who will police the police? But it will be a primary offense if i'm caught

 

[JoeR]

Thats what kills me, I see tons of people driving in machines I know the capability is either standard or optional, and they are doing the hand to head thing. And even if it isnt, a damn module that clips to your visor and acts just as good costs about $30, so if you can afford the 38K SUV your driving, I know you can afford $30 for handsfree.

Funny thing is their 38K vehicle probably came with a blue-tooth capable system. Only they're to stupid or lazy to pair up their cell phones with it.

 

[itsrequired]

I saw a cop yesterday with a phone in his ear, who will police the police? But it will be a primary offense if i'm caught

If the cop was on duty and conducting official business, it is not against the law for him or her to be on the phone. I personally use a hands free device but am not required to.

 

[creekman]

If the cop was on duty and conducting official business, it is not against the law for him or her to be on the phone. I personally use a hands free device but am not required to.

Its the age old story...police enforce laws that they feel free to violate at will.

 

[ylexot]

Um...this has been illegal in MD for a while now (both texting and talking). It just went from a secondary offense (they can't pull you over just for that) to a primary offense and changed the punishment. Is there a problem with that?

 

[mamatutu]

Um...this has been illegal in MD for a while now (both texting and talking). It just went from a secondary offense (they can't pull you over just for that) to a primary offense and changed the punishment. Is there a problem with that?

I always thought that with the original talk/text law, you could get pulled over. No wonder I keep seeing so many drivers still doing it! I have a old dumb phone that I put on speaker, and set on the dash on one of those grabby rubber things. It works just fine; no extra cost for gadgets. I do try to limit my talking while driving, however.

 

[GopherM]

If the cop was on duty and conducting official business, it is not against the law for him or her to be on the phone. I personally use a hands free device but am not required to.

How do we know if it is official business or just them shooting the bull with their girlfriends/boyfriends so their wife/husband doesn't catch them at home?

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

I saw a cop yesterday with a phone in his ear, who will police the police? But it will be a primary offense if i'm caught

When don't you see a cop in a cruiser talking on a cell phone?




"Yes, I know you were just mugged but I really have to take this call."