Northwood News ♦ February 2005

Local Legislative Issues of Note

By Charles Pritchard

There is legislation being considered by the Maryland General Assembly and Senate that may be of interest to our neighborhood readers.

Several bills are based on a general concern over the rise in fatalities incurred by teenage drivers in automobile accidents.  (See The Washington Post, 1/14/04).  One bill would prohibit new drivers from carrying teenaged passengers who are not relatives during a six-month probationary  period.  Some 20 states and the District of Columbia have such restrictions.

Delegates to the General Assembly William A Bronett and Adrienne Mandel will introduce a bill increasing the amount of supervised time for new drivers.  Bronett will also introduce a bill banning the use of cell phones by teenagers while driving.  Governor Ehrlich favors legislation to cancel the license of any teenager convicted of driving while intoxicated until the 21st birthday and extending the Learner’s Permit from four to six months.  He also wants to have teenaged licenses cancelled for 90 days for failing to use a seat belt or driving after a night curfew.

Another bill pending in Annapolis is the banning of the use of highway median strips or darting into roadways for solicitation of funds (sale of flowers, etc.) either by private individuals (including panhandlers) or representatives of organizations (i.e., the county firefighters’ annual “rubber boot collection”).  This bill is controversial.  Those favoring it cite the public safety problems caused by such roadway use.  Objections come from the firefighters.   ■