A ban on driving while talking on a hands-held cell phone appears to be on the verge of passage as House members rallied around a strategy that could make the bill law without further action by a closely divided Senate.
The motor vehicles subcommittee of the House Environmental Matters Committee voted 8-1 Tuesday at approve the Senate-passed cell phone ban without amendments. The bill is expected to be approved by the full committee Wednesday and will likely come to the House floor by the end of the week.
If the House approves the bill sponsored by Sen. Norman Stone without amendments, it will go to Gov. Martin O'Malley for his signature without having to be considered again by the Senate, where its squeaked by on a 24-23 vote.
The Stone bill makes talking on a hand-held cell phone a secondary violation, meaning a police officer could not pull over a driver who is not committing some offense as well as breaking the cell phone ban. Hands-free devices would be exempt under the bill.