Tougher law on texting while driving advances in Iowa Senate

The Iowa Senate Transportation Committee voted 12-0 Wednesday in support of a bill that toughens Iowa's ban on texting while driving.

Under current Iowa law, texting is prohibited by drivers, but the Iowa State Patrol wrote fewer than 200 citations for the offense last year. Public safety officials said officers are hampered by the current statute because motorists can be ticketed for texting while driving only if they commit another offense, such as speeding or running a red light.

Senate Study Bill 1002, which was approved Wednesday and sent to the Senate floor, would make texting while driving a primary offense. The change would allow law officers to issue a citation if they simply observe a driver texting behind the wheel, even if there is no other violation.

"This is a public safety issue. It is a step in the right direction," said Sen. Tod Bowman, D-Maquoketa. "Education is an important part of this, not just for our children, but for our adults who are using our roads. We need to focus on reducing accidents and fatalities.”

Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/08/tougher-law-texting-while-driving-advances-iowa-senate/97641192/