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MD State Police Crack Down on Distracted Drivers

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BALTIMORE (AP) - Maryland State Police are cracking down on distracted driving this month.

During April, the agency says that troopers from all 22 barracks statewide will conduct additional patrols to identify distracted drivers. They say they'll be on the lookout for people who are texting, talking on the phone, grooming, reading, watching videos, using navigation systems, or even adjusting the radio.

The Maryland Highway Safety Office, which is funding the extra patrols, says that more than 31,000 people in the state are hurt in crashes every year because of distracted driving.

Under Maryland law, a driver who causes a crash involving serious injuries or fatalities while talking on a phone or texting can face up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.