Statewide Iowa (RI) — The first year of a law designed to crack down on distracted driving in Iowa resulted in State Patrol Troopers issuing over 11-hundred 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.
Prior to the last year, officers could only issue a citation for texting while driving if the officer stopped the driver for ANOTHER offense. The figure released today (Friday) by the patrol indicates Troopers, over the last year – on average, issued three texting while driving citations per day.
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.
Ludwig says most motorists in Iowa are aware of the new law, but many don’t have a full understanding of it.
Motorists who are caught texting while driving in Iowa can face a fine of nearly $200.
