Your Phone Behind The Wheel
Transp. § 21-1124.1 and § 21-1124.2 — no texting, and hands only to start or end a call
No texting in the travel lanes. A Maryland driver may not use a handheld device to write, send or read a text or electronic message while operating a motor vehicle in the travel portion of the roadway. Using a GPS, or contacting 9-1-1, is not covered.
A driver whose vehicle is moving may not use the driver's hands on a handheld phone except to start or end a call or to turn the phone on or off. Emergency calls, to 9-1-1, a hospital, an ambulance, a fire department, a law enforcement agency or a first aid squad, are not covered.
| Handheld phone offense | Fine up to |
|---|---|
| Handheld phone offenseFirst | Fine up to$75 |
| Handheld phone offenseSecond | Fine up to$125 |
| Handheld phone offenseThird or later | Fine up to$175 |
No points are assessed for the handheld phone offense unless it contributes to an accident, and a court may waive the penalty for a first offense on proof the driver has since acquired a hands free accessory or feature. A driver under 18 who texts may have the license suspended for up to 90 days, with a restricted license for work or school.
Sources for this section (2)
- Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1124.1 — Text messaging while driving
- Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1124.2 — Handheld telephones while driving
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.