Do's and Dont's of Driving With a Cell Phone in Maryland

Over the past two years, legislators have been promoting and passing Maryland distracted driving laws at a quick rate. Silver Spring Patch is keeping tabs on what is legal and not legal while driving with your hand held device. Currently, it's illegal to use a cell phone while your vehicle is in motion and use of cell phones by school bus drivers and rookie drivers is strictly prohibited. However, it is a secondary offense and law enforcement agents have to initially pull you over for an unrelated traffic violation.  The fine is $40 for the first offense and $100 for a subsequent one. Governor Martin O’Malley signed this bill into law last year.

Since January, Maryland Senators and Delegates have introduced four new pieces of cell phone and texting legislation to further limit your cell phone usage while driving. If passed, Governor O’Malley could sign the final version into law before the close of the 2011 General Assembly on April 12.

• House Bill 222: To repeal the secondary enforcement provision of the current distracted driving law, which would allow law enforcement officers to pull a driver over for simply using their cell phone while you are stopped or in motion. It was approved  by the House on March 10.

• House Bill 221: Further clarifies that using a wireless communication device is not limited to texting, and includes writing or sending emails as well.

• Senate Bill 424: Bans persons from using any text messaging device while operating a vehicle, which includes writing, sending, or reading a text message. It was approved by the Senate on March 7.

• House Bill 196: Prohibits reading, writing, and sending of text messages and emails while car is stopped or in motion.  It was approved by the full house on March  7.