Writing a text message while behind the wheel in Maryland is illegal. But reading texts isn't -- at least, not yet. The Old Line State's legislature is attempting to rectify that by introducing legislation that would ban drivers from reading texts and emails as they drive in the state. (Apparently, a similar "measure went before lawmakers last year, but differences between the House and Senate were not worked out, and the bill failed to pass.") Currently, the fine for texting while driving in Maryland can be as much as $500; both D.C. and Virginia have similar bans. Just something to think about the next time you're cursing out Maryland drivers as "the devil incarnate," I suppose. more ›

After a decline in the amount of citations for cell phone-related distracted driving in the District in 2009, police are back on track to smash the ticketing record this year. WTOP reports that D.C. police have issued 11,088 of the $100 citations so far this year -- that's almost as many as they did in all of 2008, when a record 11,904 citations were handed out. According to projections, the total number of talking and texting tickets could top 14,700 in 2010. After more ›

When TV mega star Oprah Winfrey isn't dishing with Rielle Hunter on the private lives of former presidential candidates, she has something else on her mind: text messaging. more ›

First out of the gate to grandstand over the recent news that a Metro operator was suspended without pay for five days after being caught on video sending a text message while driving a Blue Line train: Kwame Brown (D-At large)! "I am shocked that an operator would be callous enough to risk the safety of passengers by texting on a cell phone," Brown said in a statement today. "Metro didn’t go far enough in the disciplinary action against the individual. The operator should be fired and anyone caught in the future should face the same consequences." Brown is a member of the D.C. Council's Committee on Public Works and Transportation, which has oversight over WMATA. more ›

WJLA/ABC7 reports that an unidentified Metrorail operator was suspended for five days without pay after a Metro rider posted a YouTube video of the driver that appears to show him using a cell phone to send an SMS while operating a Blue Line train. more ›