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“Jake’s Law” Bill Approved By MD House Of Delegates

March 18th, 2014 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland House of Delegates has approved a bill known as "Jake's Law." It would add a one-year jail term and $5,000 fine to any driver responsible for an accident that causes injury or death, and who had been using a hand held cell phone or smart phone while behind the wheel. The bill initially proposed a three-year sentence, but the House Judiciary Committee reduced it to one year. The bill is named for Jake Owen, a 5-year-old boy who was killed in an accident on I-83 in Baltimore, in December, 2011. Owen was riding in the back seat of his parents' car on December 28, 2011, when the car stopped behind an accident scene, on Interstate 83 at the Baltimore Beltway. Their car was struck from behind by another driver, who police say was talking on a hand held phone. The other driver was fined $1,000 and given two traffic tickets.  During debate, Baltimore County Republican Delegate Rick Impallaria tried to convince his colleagues to delay a vote, so that an amendment could be drafted to create an exemption for driver's reading an Amber Alert on their device…





 

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