Heads up Reading text/emails while operating a motor vehicle in now illegal IN MD..

[Marcus]

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/2011/09/stronger-ban-texting-while-driving-starts-saturday


Previous Maryland law banned motorists from writing or sending texts while driving, a loophole that allowed drivers to receive and read texts. The new law applies to drivers at all times -- whether the car is in motion or stopped at a red light... As a primary offense, texting while driving now means a $70 fine and one point on a driver's license. However, if officials determine that texting helped cause an accident, the penalty jumps to a $110 fine and three points. A license can be suspended with as few as eight points and revoked with 12 points.

[5th Tuition]

If you are an illegal alien driving without a drivers license and texting leads to an accident, is there still a fine and points?
5th (Marty)

[blue lou]

If you are an illegal alien driving without a drivers license and texting leads to an accident, is there still a fine and points?
5th (Marty)

Undocumented immigrant please, and yes, there's still fines and points, but they go to a deceased gringo, so.......

[rocksandblues]

i would think that would be tough to enforce. They would have to see you and cant you just say you were just seeing who was calling or checking the time?

[Fish]

Shouldn't be too hard to enforce... easiest way to spot a violator is to check the first person in a long line of cars going slower than the speed limit in the left lane.

[Marcus]

i would think that would be tough to enforce. They would have to see you and cant you just say you were just seeing who was calling or checking the time?
I agree simply because of the texting 911 and GPS loop holes. But I guess they will bogging down the courts with people fighting these since points are attached.... personally I don't understand why there is a GPS loophole... will the drive be less distracted with typing/holding a GPS than reading a message doh

[Lets Rock]

Shouldn't be too hard to enforce... easiest way to spot a violator is to check the first person in a long line of cars going slower than the speed limit in the left lane.
Aint that the truth, I drive for a living and I can spot a person texting or talking on the phone right away, they drive simular to a drunk driver

[hackeyfly]

Whether enforceable or not, anyone who does it is, as far as I'm concerned, a hazard to every other motorist on the road. Please don't do it.
Pat in Joppa

[blue lou]

i would think that would be tough to enforce. They would have to see you and cant you just say you were just seeing who was calling or checking the time?

Not hard at all, all they need to do is pull up your phone records, then they can tack on a little perjury. They should just automate the whole thing and send your fine in the mail a la red light camera. Or..... maybe they should just have drones flying above and just blow up anyone detected texting, we can skip all that other legal stuff and just do that now.

[FishingRod]

Are there any laws against using an MP3 plugged into a car stereo? I some times change the album I'm listening to on my MP3 player hooked up to my car stereo when I'm at a stop light. Will the cops think I'm reading a text and then if I show them it's just an MP3 then I will be okay?

[27 sailfish]

I think we have all seen drivers wandering across a lane / going slower then other traffic / etc and when passing them - sure enough they are texting.

No idea how any one considers texting safe to do while driving - shame common sense needs to be regulated.

I've seen folks reading books and newspaper at 60 MPH - amazes me every time.

[Lone Ranger]

Aint that the truth, I drive for a living and I can spot a person texting or talking on the phone right away, they drive simular to a drunk driverI,m with ya on that! I drive 95 every day....I know where I'd like to shove the cell phones with some of those idiots.there the ones that can't chew gum and walk at the same time!