By Ronnie Cummings and Lauren Evan
On Oct. 1, a law went into effect that requires drivers in Maryland to maintain three feet of distance between themselves and cyclists on the road.
But is this law enforceable?
According to District 1 Commander Maj. Robert Liberati, the purpose of the new law is more to protect riders in general than to cite each car specifically that breaks the 3-foot space bubble. For example, if a cyclist is injured or killed by a car, this is simply one of the charges that can be brought against the driver.
"We were briefed on all the new laws and how they affect enforcement," Liberati said. "However, there’s been no specialized enforcement because of that law."
Nevertheless, Liberati said cyclists are encouraged to call the police if they feel bullied on the road and to provide the dispatcher the most specific vehicle information possible, including the make, model and color, and of course, a license plate number if possible.
Though the presence of a witness is required in order for a citation to be issued, Liberati did say that police could keep an eye out for that particular car while out on patrols, or even track down the driver’s phone numbers and give him or her a call, warning them to be more careful in the future. This tactic is particularly effective if the car in question is a company vehicle, like a semi truck, since police can then call their employers.
However, the odds of sending someone to jail over the the new law are pretty slim.
"In most cases, there’s no evidence other than your word against their word," Liberati said. "What would happen in court? Probably not much."
Patch editor Lauren Evans unwisely decided to take her bike out for a spin down Route 1, to see if the arrival of Oct. 1 did indeed bring with it a magical bumper to keep her safe from abuse by cars on the road. It didn’t.
https://collegepark.patch.com/articles/video-testing-the-three-foot-law#video-2500211oldId.20101022180137382
Biking in Baltimore