Maryland agents and their customers will have new motivation to put down their phones while driving when a new law takes effect in October. Legislation passed earlier this month by the Maryland General Assembly gets tough on distracted driving by strengthening the state’s existing law. House Bill 753 makes the use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving a primary offense and provides for significant increases in fines for distracted driving violations.
Currently, use of a hand-held phone while driving is a secondary offense, and drivers cannot be pulled over and ticketed for that offense alone. Under the new law, police will be allowed to pull over drivers solely for using a hand held phone while the vehicle is in motion. What was once a fine of not more than $40 for a first offense and a fine of $100 for second offense has increased substantially—up to a $75 fine for the first offense, $125 for a second offense and $175 for a third infraction.
