MD Legislature does, well, nothing

Other than giving State Troopers the ability to raise a little more cash via fines.

In typical nanny state fashion, lawmakers crow about making us safer and protecting us from our own stupidity (using questionable data); and in reality, pass a law that does pretty much nothing other than raise the fine on people already getting tickets.

The bill makes a driver’s use of a hand-held cell phone while a vehicle is in motion a secondary offense, which means a police officer could not pull over a motorist unless the officer observes another violation.

There is an exception for using a hand-held device while stopped at a red light. Hands-free devices are not covered by the law. The fine for a first offense would be $40, with a $100 penalty for further violations.

So it is absolutely illegal to use your hand held phone while speeding, not using your blinker, or not wearing a seatbelt.   It’s perfectly legal, however, to sit at a red light on your phone instead of looking at the light to see when it turns green.

This is seriously just stupid.  Just a couple steps more, and we’ll not be allowed to use a cell phone at all, nor listen to music, nor eat.  For the children, of course.

[In case you are wondering, I’m against any law like this, ever.  I’m a grownup, and I can decide for myself.]