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