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Cell Phone Bill Aims To Strengthen Distracted Driving Laws

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland lawmakers want to enable police to pull someone over if they are talking on a handheld cell phone while driving.

The House Environmental Matters Committee is holding a hearing on Tuesday that would make it a primary offense, instead of a secondary one.

That means a police officer could pull someone over after observing a driver talking on a handheld cell phone. Under current law, police can only issue a citation for talking on a cell phone while driving after another violation is observed.

The bill is being sponsored by Delegate James Malone, D-Baltimore County, and Delegate A. Wade Kach, R-Baltimore County.

Now, nine states and the District of Columbia enforce the law as a primary offense.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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