Drivers

Strange as it may sound, only a few years ago Marylanders were heatedly debating whether to ban drivers from text-messaging on their cell phones while behind the wheel. The dangers of "distracted driving" were an illusion, opponents claimed, manufactured by a nanny-state government to justify unwarranted intrusions on personal liberty. Never mind that texting while driving was already known to cause thousands of traffic fatalities nationally every year, or that researchers had found that texting drivers' ability to concentrate on the road was about the same as if they had imbibed four or five drinks.

As a life-long Maryland citizen, I completely oppose efforts within our misguided General Assembly to pass the Maryland Highway Safety Act of 2013, which would allow the state to issue a Maryland driver's license to illegal immigrants ("State Senate approves driver's licenses for illegal immigrants" Mar 25). I do not agree that this proposed legislation will make Maryland roads safer; in fact, I believe the exact opposite. Illegal immigrants, just by their status as "illegal," have far less incentive to follow the law than legal citizens which, I believe, will result in long term risks to the legal citizens of Maryland through increased property damage from accidents caused by illegal immigrants, lack of legal accountability from illegal immigrants causing accidents, increased costs to legal citizens to purchase insurance, pursue legal claims, etc. Maryland is quickly becoming a sanctuary for illegal immigrants for a variety of reasons, and being able to obtain a driver's license will only attract more.

Maryland could become one of a handful of states that grant special driver's licenses to illegal immigrants under legislation garnering strong support in Annapolis. The bill, passed by the Senate on Monday, would expand and make permanent an existing two-tiered driver's license system to include more than 100,000 people whose immigration status currently prevents them from applying for a license. Gov. Martin O'Malley backs the plan, which now moves to the House of Delegates. "It's a safety issue," said Del. Jolene Ivey, a Prince George's County Democrat who introduced the House version.

The "What part of illegal don't you understand?" crowd is so busy hating they can't think straight. The letter writer who claims to have witnessed "illegals" in accidents seems most concerned that they didn't have insurance ("Licenses for illegal immigrants? That's crazy," March 18). It's a legitimate concern, but the solution is to grant driver's licenses to anyone who can afford the insurance. I'm not sure how she would be privy to insurance information on the scene of the accident.

A 22-year-old woman was arrested Tuesday night after leading Laurel Police on a chase as she threw items from her vehicle's window. Officers initially attempted to stop the vehicle, which had a suspended registration, around 8:30 p.m. in the 14100 block of Baltimore Avenue. The driver drove away and fled the police, and was seen throwing items out of the window; police recovered bags of cocaine and marijuana from the roadway. The driver eventually got out of the vehicle and ran, but police apprehended her in the 11600 block of South Laurel Drive.

Several hundred Baltimore and state police officers will be saturating the city's bar districts this St. Patrick's Day weekend, looking for drunken drivers and people drinking in the streets, law enforcement officials announced Thursday. "Roadways in and around Baltimore will be heavily patrolled," Baltimore police patrol commander Col. Garnell Green said. "Plan ahead. Have a designated driver. Know where you're going to park and expect large crowds. " Maryland Transportation Administration Police and Maryland State Police are teaming with city officers on a crackdown of rowdy behavior that plagued Canton Square last year, when residents complained of scores of people drinking openly outside bars, breaking glass and leaving trash strewn all around.

A driver on an Anne Arundel County road Wednesday evening lost control of his vehicle and struck a utility pole, leaving him and a female passenger with critical injuries at Maryland Shock Trauma, according to Anne Arundel police. A statement released by police officials Thursday said that at about 11:07 p.m. Wednesday, county police and fire departments responding to the area of Hammonds Ferry Road and Evelyn Road in Linthicum found a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette against a utility pole.

Once again, Virginia has beaten Maryland to the punch regarding taxes on business and consumers. Virginia eliminated its gas tax completely and replaced it with a 3.5 percent sales tax on the wholesale price of gasoline. Gov. Martin O'Malley's new tax increase proposal would reduce the gas tax rate 5 cents but add a sales tax to the retail price of gasoline and diesel, resulting in a 63 percent increase in the tax on gas and a 90 percent increase in the diesel tax. Only in Maryland would we claim to "reduce" taxes in a way that results in increases - and leaves Maryland retailers at a devastating competitive disadvantage.

A lot of people are opposed to allowing illegal immigrants the ability to obtain a driver's license, and I do understand their point of view, but I'd like to point out the benefits of illegal immigrants having a license: •In case of a car accident, the illegal immigrant will have the ability to present his license to verify his identity and to provide it to both the police, if needed or requested, and those involved in the accident. Would you rather have him give you a fake name?

One of two Pennsylvania men involved in an early Monday morning crash on the Harford County side of Conowingo Dam has died, Maryland State Police confirmed Monday afternoon. Anila Vadala, 28, of the 4000 block of Locust Street in Philadelphia, died following the two-vehicle accident, which occurred around 5:45 a.m. Monday on Route 1 near the dam, according to State Police. The accident involved a pickup truck and Honda, according to Sgt. Comer, duty officer at the Maryland State Police Barrack, which is investigating the crash.