‘Touching’ your phone behind the wheel is not enough for a traffic stop, Supreme Court rules

By: Joe Wicke

Outlets: Maryland Matters

Published: January 29, 2026

Words: 778

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 3 days ago

Body Text Preview

A divided Maryland Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that police cannot pull over drivers who are merely touching their cell phones while behind the wheel, actions that could be permitted under the state’s distracted driving laws.

“It is clear that not every driver observed manipulating, or even touching, or pressing the screen of a cell phone while driving can reasonably be suspected of violating the law,” wrote Justice Shirley M. Watts for the majority in

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us