The changes in Senate File 234 drew bipartisan support, but several senators expressed disappointment that the Legislature was not banning hand-held devices entirely, given that Iowa’s traffic deaths have risen from a five-year low of 317 in 2013 to 403 in 2016.
Sen. Michael Breitbach, R-Strawberry Point, said he would have preferred to have gone further, but the compromise language was the best chance of getting legislation approved by both the House and Senate and signed by the governor.
“This is as far as I think that I can get with this bill right now,” Breitbach told his Senate colleagues. He said he expected at some point Iowa would prohibit the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving, but this appeared to be the bipartisan bill that could move forward this year.
“I think this is at least a step in the right direction,” said Sen. Tim Kapucian, R-Keystone, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Sen. Tod Bowman, D-Maquoketa, said it is a bad idea to take your eyes off the road, to take your mind off your driving and to take your hands off the wheel. But, for now, he said it makes sense to make incremental progress toward reducing distractions and making Iowa highways safer.
Iowa is one of five states that classify texting while driving as a secondary offense for adults, meaning law enforcement officers are not allowed to pull over a driver unless they suspect another violation also may have been committed. Iowa has a texting ban for young drivers. SF 234 would eliminate the provision that prohibits an officer from stopping or detaining a person solely for a violation that relates to texting while driving. The new primary offense would carry a $30 fine.
“I’m ready for hands-free,” said Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, who noted his support for the bill was reluctant. “I think it’s hard to explain what we’re doing to the average Iowans. I don’t think Iowans are going to understand what we’re doing here.”
In passing the bill and sending it to the House, 23 Republicans, 19 Democrats and one independent voted for the bill, and five Republicans and one Democrat opposed it.
The “Stay Alive: Don’t Phone & Drive” coalition, which is made up of public safety groups, insurance carriers and wireless service providers, called SF 234’s passage in the Iowa Senate a positive step forward.
“The passage of SF 234 is a positive step forward in our coalition’s efforts to make Iowa’s roads safer for travelers,” said Susan Cameron, a lobbyist for the Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association. “Senate File 234, with the adopted amendment, takes the critical step of making it unlawful to use a phone or electronic device to perform activities such as send or view emails and text messages, browse the web, view or update social media, or play games while driving.
“Our coalition looks forward to continuing to work with lawmakers to eventually move to a full ‘hands-free communication while driving’ policy, but S.F. 234 strengthens and expands Iowa’s current texting only ban significantly,” she added.
©2017 The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
