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>> Using a cell phone while driving is dumb, but in Maryland it largely remains a secondary offense: a police officer has to pull you over for something else in order to cite you for using a cell phone while driving. (Texting while driving is an exception.) But some Maryland legislators want that to change, reports the Examiner—they’ve proposed a bill that would allow cops to pull over motorists simply for the act using their cell phone while driving. The offense would be categorized as a moving violation and stick the violator with a $500 fine and one point on their license.

>> Former University of Virginia lacrosse player George W. Huguely has asked a Virginia Court of Appeals to vacate a conviction for the killing of ex-girlfriend Yeardley Love in 2010, writes the Post. In his request for a new trial, Huguely’s lawyers say that his client was deprived a fair jury and that the proceeding should have been suspended when one of his lawyers fell ill during the first trial. It also raises the issue of the instructions given to the jury, saying that they may have convicted him of manslaughter instead of murder had they been better instructed. Huguely is currently serving a 23-year sentence.

>> A Montgomery County legislator wants to close a loophole in the law that he says allowed a part-time middle school teacher to have a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student, reports WJLA. After Scott Spear was arrested last year for sleeping with the student, prosecutors were forced to drop all charges because he was only a part-time teacher and the student wasn’t under the age of 16. Now Delegate Lou Simmons wants the loophole to be closed so that sexual relations between any school employees and students would be forbidden.

Briefly Noted: Take that, vultures! Sincerely, Leesburg … Some Montgomery County smokers unhappy with proposed ban on lighting up on county property … Fewer people on Prince George’s County gun offender registry than expected … Maryland residents training to be table game dealers … State of the District Address set for Feb. 5 … Park Rangers behaving badly in D.C.!

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2012, the National Park Service hinted that Occupy D.C.’s days were numbered and we welcomed New Columbia Distillers. In 2011, we looked at the things D.C. could pay for if it wasn’t paying for luxury SUVs.