Senate
Study
Bill
3191
-
Introduced
SENATE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
COMMITTEE
ON
TRANSPORTATION
BILL
BY
CHAIRPERSON
BOWMAN)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
establishing
texting
while
driving
as
a
primary
traffic
1
offense
for
purposes
of
law
enforcement.
2
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
3
TLSB
6157SC
(2)
85
dea/nh
S.F.
_____
Section
1.
Section
321.276,
subsection
5,
Code
2014,
is
1
amended
by
striking
the
subsection.
2
EXPLANATION
3
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
4
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
5
Current
law
prohibits
a
person
from
using
a
hand-held
6
electronic
communication
device
to
write,
read,
or
send
a
7
text
message
while
driving
a
motor
vehicle.
A
violation
is
8
punishable
by
a
scheduled
fine
of
$30,
but
it
is
not
considered
9
a
moving
violation.
In
addition,
the
prohibition
against
10
texting
while
driving
is
only
enforceable
as
a
secondary
11
action
when
the
motor
vehicle
has
been
stopped
for
a
suspected
12
violation
of
another
law.
Under
this
bill,
a
peace
officer
is
13
authorized
to
stop
a
person
suspected
of
texting
while
driving,
14
regardless
of
whether
a
violation
of
another
law
has
occurred.
15
-1-
LSB
6157SC
(2)
85
dea/nh
1/
1