Traffic Safety

Overview

The Bowie Police Department Traffic Safety Unit is dedicated to promoting and improving traffic safety through education and enforcement.  The Traffic Unit enforces traffic laws, responds to traffic collisions and handles specific traffic related concerns from citizens.

This unit conducts:

• Accident Investigation
• Radar/Laser Speed Enforcement
• DUI Enforcement
• Child Safety Seat Inspections
• Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspections

We also partner with other agencies participating in Smooth Operator, Click it or Ticket and Check Point Strike Force.  The Bowie Police Department recognizes that one of the top concerns from citizens is traffic on neighborhood streets.  If you have any concerns or information regarding traffic safety please send an email to Corporal J. Rose at jrose@cityofbowie.org.

Changes in Motor Vehicle Law

• Speed Enforcement Cameras in School Zones (effective 10/1/09)
  
  
• Text Messaging (effective 10/1/09)

A person may not use a text messaging device to write or send a text message while operating a motor vehicle in motion or in the travel portion of the roadway.

This does not apply to global positioning systems; or to a text messaging device to contact a 9-1-1 system

Violators of this may face up to a $70 fine

• Maryland’s Child Passenger Safety Law (effective 6/30/08)
  

Every child under 8 years old must ride in a booster seat or other appropriate child safety seat. Unless the child is 4 feet 9 inches or taller or weighs more than 65 pounds.

Every child from 8 to 16 years old who is not secured in a car seat must be secured in the vehicle’s seat belt.

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