A new Iowa law addressing how we use electronic devices when driving will go into effect July 1.
Gone are the days when some of you held your cellphones and texted or scrolled on them while driving!
The “Hands-Free Driving” law now prohibits the following:
• Holding a phone in any way while driving.
• Manually scrolling, typing, or interacting with your phone while driving.
• Entering an address into your GPS while driving.
• Streaming videos or making video calls, even with voice commands, while driving.
• Reading or viewing texts, videos, or social media while driving.
• Calling, texting, or dialing unless you are using a hands-free or voice-activated system while driving.
It’s time for everyone to pay attention to the road when they are behind the wheel of a car. And with good reason! Distracted driving has become one of the most common causes of vehicle accidents!
For the first six months under the new Hands-Free Driving law, our department and others in law enforcement will be focused on educating and issuing warnings when we see people using their phones illegally while driving. It will be our goal to help you understand the new law and know that you can be pulled over if we see you using your phone.
If you are seen using a phone or electronic device while driving, once full enforcement begins, you will be fined $100, plus any associated fees.
We encourage you to utilize the graphic appearing here to learn about the permissible ways you can still talk to/on your electronic devices while driving.
If you have questions about the new law, please reach out to us or visit the Nevada Public Safety offices at City Hall to discuss this further.
