Phone ban moving ahead

A ban on using hand-held cell phones and other wireless devices while driving overcame a key legislative hurdle yesterday and moves to the Senate floor, where proponents believe they will finally succeed in what they see as a decade-long battle for motorist safety.

A Senate committee narrowly approved a version of the bill yesterday, but only after amending it significantly to add several exemptions, to make hand-held cell phone use a violation only if a driver is pulled over for another traffic offense and to let the restriction expire after two years.

The Baltimore Sun