From the Bel Air Police Department:
In a combined effort with the Maryland Highway Safety Office the Bel Air Police Department will focus on enforcing Maryland’s laws regarding the use of handheld devices.
These efforts are paid for by a grant of $2,500.00. Officers will be working in teams to spot and cite violations during the month of April.
The operator of a vehicle my not use such devices to make or receive phone calls while the vehicle is in motion. Also prohibited, is the driver of a vehicle using a similar device to send or receive text or electronic messages while they are on the travel portion of the roadway. The use of cellular phones to contact a 9-1-1 system is permissible but should be done when and where it is safe for the driver and others.
The penalties for these violations range from $70.00 for the first offense to $160.00 for a third or subsequent offenses. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration assigns points, if the violation is found to have contributed to a collision, three points are assessed. In addition, a person who has a learners permit or provisional license faces additional penalties including the suspension of their driving privileges for up to 90 days.
For more information on Distracted Driving, follow this link to the Maryland Highway Safety Office.
http://www.mva.maryland.gov/safety/mhso/program-distracted-driving.htm
Unbelievable, working in teams? isn’t there more serious crime to focus on, like armed robberies etc., and how far is $2500.00 going to go with paying two officers? and how many teams? Distracted Driving Enforcement Month? Who comes up with this crap? Not to worry, With $2500.00, this should last about 2 days.
Their is no bigger crime then losing a child or loved one because of texting and driving. If you lost someone, I am sure you would feel
Differently.
Losing a child do to drugs takes a back seat to this subject matter?
Attempting to place a greater value on anything that causes a loss of life just because you want to be a sadist makes anything you have to say irrelevant.
Really? You replied to my post dumba$$
Because if I didn’t you’d be allowed to wail in the wilderness like you always do without anyone calling you out for it.
But lets legalize marijuana…..
another waste of money just to make money on a silly crime
why wont the town clown police go after the drugs ?
how about operation drug grab month maybe clean the streets up a bit
it is an easy job to write tickets for cell phone use rather then get your hands dirty with the real problems belair faces
I think HC has given up on trying to crack down on drugs, it is out of control and they just don’t know how to deal with the issue, so lets use TEAMS of officers to crack down on phones. Makes sense to me.
Thank you! EVERY time I’m on the road I see people texting, crossing the center line, driving on the shoulder, etc. Pay attention people!
I watched a video documentary last night about 4 different families that lost a loved one in an accident caused by someone texting. So sad. It can happen to anyone. Wake up people.
With the number of drivers still talking I thought the law was cancelled, and what’s up with people that hold the phone in front of their face when they talk? Do they think holding it in their hand some how makes it not a hand held device?
I would guess that they are Face timing, or using the speaker function.
How will anyone know if a hand held device was the cause of an accident? Sure, if the person slams into someone then admits, “Yes, I was talking and/or texting while driving.” That won’t happen and it’s virtually impossible to get phone records unless subpoenaed. Texting while driving should be a felony, it maims and kills…..I know first hand.
Subpoenas for phone records are as easy as mailing them. I use to send them out from my desk weekly. And believe me, when being charged with killing someone, they are going to check…not to mention accidents being witnessed by people observing the driver texting.
I’m sure some people don’t get caught, but they will have to live with what they have done for the rest of their life.
For those saying that pulling people over for this is a waste of money, consider the fact that just routine traffic stops account for a significant percentage of serious charges filed against people for many other things.
I for one would never complain about law enforcement, *enforcing laws*.
BAPD should be very careful about enforcing this law. 11-1124.2 (d2) states that A driver of a motor vehicle that is in motion may not use the driver’s hands to use a handheld telephone other than to initiate or terminate a wireless telephone call or to turn on or turn off the handheld telephone.
This law leaves a lot of gray area. It does not specify a time limit for initiating/terminating a phone call or turning the device off. It may be easy to subpoena telephone records but tread lightly because it has lawsuit written all over it. Another exception to the law is: Use of a handheld telephone as a communication device utilizing push-to-talk technology by an individual operating a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in 49 C.F.R. Part 390.5 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
The problem is that delegates and senators where trying to please too many people that donate to election campaign funds. Thus the numerous added exceptions to the law. It provides too many gray areas and sets a department and officer up for a lawsuit.
Code50- So I just looked the law up because I didn’t believe you, but you are correct. Knowing this how can they enforce the law? Is the $ 2,500 grant worth the lawsuit for an illegal traffic stop?
How does a person initiate or terminate a phone call with the phone pressed up against their ear?
Eating and driving should be illegal. It would cut down on people shoving a burger down their throat and swerving to grab the last fry. It would also help with this country’s growing weight problems.
LOL Dollar Menu…try eating an Arby’s Roast beef sandwich while driving. The horsey and Arby’s sauce drips everywhere!
Harford County Sheriff’s race weekly betting line:
Bane 3-2 The High Sheriff keeps lowering crime rate
Shellnut 4-1 Movie star looks makes him ladies pick
Ryan 10-1 Predicts Terps will beat Notre Dame, lose to UCONN
Gahler 12-1 Has eye on warden’s job at HCDC
Peck 18-1 Promises Tesla patrol cars starting in 2016
Bane is running away with it and really hasn’t started running. John Ryan gaining ground and signs quickly.
Cops are among the WORST offenders – about 1/2 the time I see a cop they are on the phone, not to mention the ones typing on the in car computers. I do not believe they are using the phones to coordinate a tactical takedown of a drug kingpin they have encrypted radios for that. It’s not the fault of the cops they didn’t pass the law but they Damn sure ought to obey it themselves!
Stand by for response from a Cop explaining how they are specially trained and its O.K. for them but not us commoners….
Actually there is information they only communicate via cell phone. Not saying that’s why they are on the phone but thats a fact.
Actually, I made a complaint about this not long ago. And my complaint wasn’t that the officer was using their phone while driving, it was that using their phone while driving caused them to nearly drive into the curb and onto a sidewalk that scared the jeebees out of the pedestrians walking on it.
And I was driving in the other lane next to him, not one of the pedestrians.
It doesn’t bother me that they can get exceptions, but it bothers if they can’t handle them responsibly.
They are following the law, they are exempt. Stop worrying about what they do and worry about yourself and you won’t have any problems, that simple.
They are above the law.
Does it annoy you that they are also allowed to carry guns as part of the job or does your sense of entitlement send you careening off the road again?
Last Friday, as I headed home from Johns Hopkins with my 18 month old, who had just been released from the hospital following a fairly serious surgery, a driver on his cell phone nearly hit us on Main Street. I have no problem with this project. As town residents we take frequent walks, and have seen some frightening examples of distracted driving. Other crimes are big problems too, but it doesn’t mean that we ignore this one.
Too many people think about stuff like this at only it’s face value. Almost all crimes committed involve a vehicle in some form or fashion. Operations like this not only combat the one obvious problem but it also almost always leads to more serious charges. More people police come into contact with, the more chance they stumble across something bigger, ie drugs usually. But what do I know…
DDACTS
And who will protect us from the police who do this ALL the time while driving and also type on lap tops while driving. The internet is littered with hundreds of articles like the one attached about cops crashing while texting..
http://www.vladtv.com/blog/29014/police-officer-kills-two-women-cause-he-was-texting-while-driving-at-126mph/
Here is just a sampling.
http://www.kens5.com/news/local/Lawsuit-alleges-SAPD-officer–texting-before-crash-89553722.html
http://www.azfamily.com/news/Photo-shows-Tempe-police-officer-texting-while-riding-motorcycle-213350551.html
http://jalopnik.com/5191403/seattle-area-police-chief-causes-accident-driving-while-texting
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jun/29/officers-text-message-ruled-a-factor-in/