Text Messaging Ban Under Consideration
In our Session 2008 report: Should you be allowed to text message while driving? Lawmakers are debating a proposal that would ban the behavior on Maryland roads. The parents of Heather Hurd came to Annapolis Tuesday to testify in favor of the bill. Kim Hurd, Heather’s mother says, "She had her dream job, she was loving life. She had just gotten engaged in October." But those dreams came to a standstill 2 months ago when Heather was killed in a 9 car pile up in Florida. Russell Hurd, Heather’s father says, "It was alleged the tractor trailer driver who started the accident was text messaging." Heather's parents want lawmakers to ban text messaging while driving. They brought their message to Annapolis to support Delegate Jeff Waldstreicher's bill. "It's an extremely dangerous activity because it takes both eyes off the road and both hands off the wheel." A driver caught texting behind the wheel would receive a ticket and a fine, similar to if you're caught speeding. A House committee rejected a similar bill last week that would have banned texting while driving. But sponsors of this measure say their ban is more comprehensive, protecting drivers who appear to be texting but are not. Delegate Waldstreicher says, “For example, looking through a contact list, or putting in a name to find a phone number… my bill doesn't criminalize that behavior." New Jersey, Washington state, and Phoenix have already banned text messaging while driving.
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