The Department of Public Safety has already filed proposed legislation to tackle distracted driving. The Iowa State Patrol and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau have tabbed distracted driving as their greatest highway safety concern.
Current law prohibits the use of hand-held electronic communication devices to write, send or view electronic messages while driving a motor vehicle. However, current law is difficult to enforce since using a cell phone for other tasks is allowed.
This legislation would expand the ban to prohibit any use of an electronic device while driving. Use of an electronic device would be allowed under the bill if the vehicle is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway — or as far away from the center of the roadway as is practicable if the vehicle cannot be entirely removed.
Exceptions are included for members of a public safety agency performing official duties, health care professionals in the course of emergency situations, for the purpose of reporting an emergency situation, for certain radio operators, for members of a public transit system performing official duties while in a vehicle that isn’t in motion, for utility maintenance employees or contractors for the purpose of providing utility services, for transportation network company drivers engaged in a prearranged ride while the vehicle is not in motion and for people using an electronic device for the purpose of accessing or using a fleet management system.
The scheduled fine for a violation would be $45. A violation would be considered a moving violation under the law. While moving violations can be considered for purposes of administrative suspension of a license or establishing habitual offender status, a peace officer would be required to issue a warning in lieu of citation for violations until Jan. 1, 2024.
Further restrictions on cell phone use while driving will provide law enforcement with better means to combat distracted driving and lower the number of annual traffic fatalities, according to the Department of Public Safety.
