Thanks to the MD Realtor Magazine this month for reminding us that as of October 1st, all MD drivers are required to use a hands free phone device. The article reports that employers could be held liable for any of their employees are conducting business transactions while on the phone. According to the Maryland driving laws web site the fine for a first offense would be $40 and each additional ticket would be for $100. The good news is that the imposed fine would be a secondary offense, so just so long as you aren’t speeding and talking on the phone, then you can’t be fined. As sited here drivers can turn the phone off or on, but cannot use it to communicate.
So what’s the solution? Either use the an ear piece for your cell phone such as this one, or purchase a speaker type kit to place in your car, such as this one. You simply sync your phone to the blue tooth device and use your phone as you usually would, with the exception of holding the phone to your ear.
Other states that have currently banned cell phone use while driving? California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Washington and New York. Several additional states have partial bans: Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia. Many additional states are currently debating the issue, which proves what a hot topic this really is!
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