Politics & Government

Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving Could Become Primary Offense

Current law empowers police to ticket motorists for handheld cell phone use only if they've been stopped for another traffic violation. A proposed bill could change that.

Maryland motorists could be ticketed by police for using a handheld cell phone while driving if a proposed bill sponsored by Del. Jim Malone passes the General Assembly. 

The bill calls for making the use of handheld cell phones – for calls or texts – while driving a primary offense. The proposed legislation is part of a package of driver-related bills sponsored by Malone, a Democrat who represents District 12A (which includes parts of Baltimore and Howard counties) .

The General Assembly last year passed a bill making the use of a handheld device a secondary offense, meaning that police could ticket drivers for using their cells only if they had first been stopped for another violation.

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Malone, who was not available for comment, is also sponsoring two other cell phone related bills.

The first would close a loophole in the law allowing drivers to read text messages while driving. 

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Current law prohibits drivers from sending text messages while driving but allows them to read messages and reply when the vehicle is stopped. Malone's bill would close those loopholes.

A third bill sponsored by Malone would ban minors from sending or reading electronic messages using any cellular device while driving. Malone's bills do not, however, seek to prohibit the use of hands-free cell phone use in cars.

All three bills, if passed and signed into law, would take effect Oct. 1.


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