ANGALIA LIVE NEWS

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

New Maryland cell, seatbelt laws in effect-ABC News

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BALTIMORE - As of today, a driver found using hands to use a cellular phone will be cited for a primary traffic offense.

The citations will break down as follows:

1st offense is an $83 FINE, including court costs
2nd offense is a $140 FINE
3rd and subsequent offense is a $160 FINE

If the violation contributed to an accident, THREE POINTS will also be assessed in addition to the fine.

What is a primary traffic offense? Well, it means you can be stopped and cited for the act.

For those driving commercial vehicles, the first offense still carries a $290 fine and is also considered a primary traffic offense. Commercial vehicle operators found texting while driving will be hit with a $250 fine. If the violation contributed to an accident, the fine jumps to $1k.

The laws on cell use are not the only new traffic laws drivers should be familiar with. Review the breakdown below.

*A child younger than 16 years may not ride in an unenclosed cargo bed of a pick-up truck.

New INCREASED FINES

The following violations are now $83.00 FINES

* Failing to secure a child under age of 8 in a child safety seat when transporting in a motor vehicle.
* Fail to transport a child under age of 16 in (child safety seat per instructions, seatbelt).
* Using a (child safety seat, seatbelt) to (restrain, seat, position) more than one individual.
Operate a motor vehicle with (operator, occupant under age 16) not restrained by (seatbelt, child safety seat).
* Passenger age 16 or more in outboard front seat of motor vehicle without seatbelt restraint. Example of an "outboard front seat" is a front passenger seat next to a door.
New Secondary TRAFFIC OFFENSE

* Passenger age 16 or more in rear seat of motor vehicle without seatbelt restraint. The FINE is $83.00, including court costs.

The law covers the driver and passengers in both the front and back seats. Each person that is not buckled up (driver and passenger) may receive a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt.

In the case where neither the driver nor any passenger 15 years of age or younger are buckled up, the driver will receive a ticket for both.

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