State Court
•4 min read
Court of Appeals of Maryland
Maryland Supreme Court Restricts Police Traffic Stops for Cell Phone Use
The Maryland Supreme Court ruled in *State v. Stone* that police officers cannot justify traffic stops based solely on observing a driver touching or manipulating a cell phone screen. The court held that officers must identify specific facts that reasonably establish a traffic violation has occurred, as merely touching a phone is consistent with both legal and illegal use.
•Court applied Terry v. Ohio standard requiring specific facts beyond general observations
•Simply touching or manipulating a phone screen insufficient for reasonable suspicion
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