Cell phone bills likely dead

Lawmakers have apparently derailed revived efforts to force Maryland drivers to hang up their cell phones while driving ? at leastfor this year.

A bill requiring hands-free devices for drivers behind the wheel received an unfavorable committee report this week because challengers didn?t understand its intent, one disappointed supporter said. As proposed, the law would authorize police offers to cite drivers talking on phones, grooming themselves, reading or doing anything to drive inattentively.