Grieving families say they want to spare others from losing loved ones to distract driving Iowa Republican lawmakers say this could be the year they finally ban motorists' handheld use of cellphones behind the wheel.
Law enforcement officials, advocates and grieving families of Iowans killed by distracted drivers packed a Senate committee room Wednesday to again implore lawmakers to ban motorists' handheld use of mobile devices behind the wheel.
“There should never be any young person, or any person in this state, that has to lose their life because someone chooses to text instead of drive,” Judith Collora, of Mount Pleasant, told lawmakers. “Driving is a privilege, and to choose to text instead of drive puts other people at risk. So we ask you to pass it, and hope that we can save some lives and save families the agony of losing their loved one. My daughter is never going to call me again and say, ‘Love you, Mom.’”
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Bill would increase penalties for drivers caught using phone
A three-member subcommittee of Senate lawmakers voted unanimously Wednesday to advance legislation that would make it illegal to use a phone or mobile device while driving unless it's voice- activated or hands-free.
Senate File 22 would allow for mobile device use while driving only in voice-activated or hands-free mode. Any hand-held use of a device while driving would be prohibited.
The bill also would increase the scheduled fine for this violation from $45 to $100 and would make it a moving violation that can be considered for purposes of administrative suspension of a driver’s license or to establish habitual offender status.