Politics & Government
Tuesday is the Day: New Maryland Laws That Could Cost You on the Roads
What you need to know about the new Maryland cell phone, seatbelt laws that take effect Oct. 1. Do you know the law in Virginia, too?
By Tyler Waldman
If you're holding your cell phone to your ear while driving, starting Oct. 1, 2013 you could face the possibility of a traffic ticket even if you're doing nothing else wrong.
Starting Tuesday, police in Maryland will be able to pull drivers over for talking on a hand-held cell phone.
In Virginia, only Intermediate license holders — teen drivers — are banned from using cell phones while driving.
If you're holding your cell phone to your ear while driving, starting Oct. 1, 2013 you could face the possibility of a traffic ticket even if you're doing nothing else wrong.
Starting Tuesday, police in Maryland will be able to pull drivers over for talking on a hand-held cell phone.
In Virginia, only Intermediate license holders — teen drivers — are banned from using cell phones while driving.
Texting is banned for all drivers in both states. In Virginia, police can pull you over if they suspect you of texting while driving. The fine is $125 for the first offense and $250 for subsequent offenses.
The cell phone change is the biggest of Maryland's driving laws set to take effect. Drivers caught driving while using a hand-held mobile phone can be fined $75 for a first-time offense, up from $40 under current law, but more for subsequent violations. The ticket carries no points unless the action contributed to an accident.
Driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone was already against state law, but it was a secondary offense, meaning police could only ticket a driver for it if the driver was stopped for a primary offense, such as speeding.
AAA Mid-Atlantic officials said in a release the new law will help reduce distracted driving, which accounted for nearly half of all road fatalities in Maryland last year, according to state statistics cited in a AAA release.
“We are pleased that the Maryland General Assembly recognized the importance of strengthening the hand-held cell phone ban, as it will now serve as a real deterrent to motorists and enable police to better enforce the existing law,” AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Ragina C. Averella said in the release.
Another law taking effect will require all passengers to wear seat belts while traveling in the back seat of any vehicle. The new law is a secondary offense and carries a $50 fine. Children 16 and under were covered by existing state law (except children under 8 who are 4 feet 9 inches or taller), but the fine for violating that law will rise to match the fine for adults, according to the AAA release.
And furthermore, drivers will no longer be allowed to have more passengers than seatbelts in a car, according to the release.
What do you think of the new laws? How will they affect you? Tell us in the comments.
Driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone was already against state law, but it was a secondary offense, meaning police could only ticket a driver for it if the driver was stopped for a primary offense, such as speeding.
AAA Mid-Atlantic officials said in a release the new law will help reduce distracted driving, which accounted for nearly half of all road fatalities in Maryland last year, according to state statistics cited in a AAA release.
“We are pleased that the Maryland General Assembly recognized the importance of strengthening the hand-held cell phone ban, as it will now serve as a real deterrent to motorists and enable police to better enforce the existing law,” AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Ragina C. Averella said in the release.
Another law taking effect will require all passengers to wear seat belts while traveling in the back seat of any vehicle. The new law is a secondary offense and carries a $50 fine. Children 16 and under were covered by existing state law (except children under 8 who are 4 feet 9 inches or taller), but the fine for violating that law will rise to match the fine for adults, according to the AAA release.
And furthermore, drivers will no longer be allowed to have more passengers than seatbelts in a car, according to the release.
What do you think of the new laws? How will they affect you? Tell us in the comments.
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