Md. Senate Passes Distracted Driving Bill

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland Senate has passed a measure to increase penalties for distracted driving.

The Senate passed the bill 46-0 on Thursday. It would apply to people who cause serious accidents while text messaging on hand-held cell phones.

Sen. Roger Manno, D-Montgomery, is sponsoring the measure. It would impose a three-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $5,000 on a driver whose texting on a hand-held phone causes an accident resulting in serious injury or death.

The measure is known as Jake's Law after 5-year-old Jake Owen, who was killed in a crash in 2011.

The House of Delegates has passed a separate bill.

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