Adhering to the law will make roadways in St. Mary’s County and in Maryland safer for drivers, passengers, bicyclists, horse-and-buggy operators and pedestrians.
#TrafficTipTuesdays
Cellphone use behind the wheel:
In general, texting and using hands to operate a cellphone is prohibited while driving.
Sec. 21-1124.1 Text messaging prohibited. “An individual may not use a text messaging device to write, send, or read a text message or an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle in the travel portion of the roadway.”
Sec. 21-1124.2 Communications Traffic Safety Act. “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.”
Those under 18 years of age are not permitted to use a wireless communications device while operating a motor vehicle with the exception of a 911 call.
General exceptions: Emergency use of a handheld telephone, including calls to a 911 system, a hospital, an ambulance service provider, a fire department, a law enforcement agency or a first-aid squad. Law-enforcement personnel and emergency personnel are also exempted.
A driver texting while operating a vehicle faces a fine of $70 and one point on a driver’s license or $110 and three points if contributing to an accident.
A driver using hands to use a handheld telephone while motor vehicle is in motion faces fines of $83 to $160, plus three points on a license if contributing to an accident.
Use of a text messaging device or handheld telephone while driving that causes an accident that directly results in the death or serious bodily injury of another person is 12 points on a license and the driver must appear in court.
