Handheld Cell Phones No Longer Allowed While Driving
New cell phone ban takes effect Friday
Effective Friday, it is illegal in Maryland to use a handheld cell phone while driving. The new law, which was passed in April, prohibits any use of a cell phone without a hands-free device while operating a vehicle. Drivers are still allowed to use a phone with a bluetooth earpiece or headset while driving. Drivers can also operate a phone while stopped at a traffic light, but must stop use when the car is in motion. First time offenders will get a $40 fine and $100 for subsequent offenses. The law categorizes handheld cell phone use as a secondary offense. That means a driver must be pulled over for another reason in order to be ticketed. But a fact sheet put out by the Maryland Department of Transportation notes that "negligent driving …
