New Maryland traffic safety laws will go into effect October 1.

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When power outages knock out traffic lights at intersections, like drivers may have noticed during June's derecho, all cars approaching a dark intersection must stop.

The new law aims to bring order to the chaos. After stopping, drivers must yield to any other vehicle or pedestrian in the intersection.

Violators will face a $90 fine and two points on their license. If the driver breaks the law and causes a crash, the fine is raised to $130 and three points.

Also starting October 1 is a new law intended to keep child passengers safer.

Under the new law, children under 8 must ride in a child safety seat regardless of their weight, unless they are 4 foot 9 inches or taller.

The new law gets rid of the weight exemption that allowed children to get out of booster seats when they reached 65 pounds.

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