Montgomery County and Prince George's County - Distracted Driving Monitoring System Pilot Program
Impact
One significant impact of SB613 is that it allows county agencies to issue civil citations based on recorded images produced by these monitoring systems. Owners of vehicles captured violating the law are subject to civil penalties not exceeding $40. According to the bill, these penalties do not contribute points to the driver’s record, nor are they recorded as moving violations, thus lessening the immediate repercussions for individuals who receive citations. This approach aims to enhance enforcement without the traditional penalties associated with traffic offenses.
Summary
Senate Bill 613, titled the 'Distracted Driving Monitoring System Pilot Program,' aims to implement a pilot program specifically in Montgomery County and Prince George's County for the purpose of utilizing distracted driving monitoring systems. These systems are designed to enforce prohibitions on the use of handheld devices while operating a vehicle, facilitating increased traffic safety. The bill outlines the conditions under which these monitoring systems can operate and specifies the civil penalties that may be imposed for violations detected by them.
Contention
There has been notable contention surrounding the implications of utilizing automated monitoring systems for enforcing traffic laws. Advocates argue that the bill could substantially reduce incidents of distracted driving and improve road safety. However, critics express concerns regarding the potential for excessive monitoring and violations of privacy, as well as the implications of automated law enforcement on individual accountability. Additionally, there are questions regarding the effectiveness of such systems in curbing distracted driving behaviors in the long term and whether they might disproportionately affect certain populations.