If you have been holding off buying that bluetooth device for your cell phone thinking you have a few months to go before Delaware's new cell phone driving ban takes effect, you may want to start shopping today if you do any driving in Maryland.
With the traffic flowing on a daily basis between Delaware and Maryland, many Delawareans may not realize that while Delaware's law goes into effect January 2, 2011, starting this Friday, October 1, 2010 it will be illegal in Maryland to talk on your cell phone while driving.
Unlike Delaware's new law where it is a primary offense, meaning that you can be pulled over for violating the cell phone law alone, in Maryland it is a secondary offense, meaning drivers can only be pulled over if they are committing another offense as well. Drivers in Maryland cited for using hand held cell phones could be fined $40 for first violations and $100 for subsequent ones.
Maryland also bans texting while driving, violations of the texting law carries a fine not exceeding $500.
Exceptions to the cell phone ban, as well as the texting ban, are made of for calls placed to 9-1-1, ambulance, hospital, fire, or law enforcement agencies.
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Comments
Good news for Maryland!
Can't wait for this to take effect in DE, too. People need to pay more attention to the road when they're driving.
Recently here in New Orleans, the ban went from just texting while driving to also a ban on talking on one while driving...unless you have a headset. I see people still talking on them all the time and don't see any kind of corrective measures yet. Hope it does better up there.
I pulled over a few years ago on a side road to use the phone during dusk and a policeman pulled up next to me. Asked me if I was ok, so I told him why and he lauded me :).
I started using a bluetooth whilst driving long before it became the law in California. Driving a stick and talking is no good.
This is great that Maryland is banning cell phones while driving starting this Friday. I hope soon it will be the same in all states.
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