The first year of a measure designed to crackdown on distracted driving in Iowa resulted in State Patrol Troopers issuing over 11-hundred (1,100) citations to motorists. A law that made texting while driving a “primary” offense took effect on July 1, 2017. Sergeant Nate Ludwig is with the Iowa State Patrol.
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Ludwig says the tally only covers the tickets handed out by the Patrol, NOT the citations also issued by local police and sheriff’s deputies across Iowa.
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The state law says you have to be off the traveled portion (of the road) and at a complete stop in order to use your phone to do those specific things.” Motorists who are caught texting while driving in Iowa can face a fine of over $100.