Senate Study Bill 1002 - Introduced SENATE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON KAPUCIAN) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the use of electronic communication devices 1 to write, send, or read text messages while driving as a 2 primary offense. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1535XC (1) 87 ns/nh
S.F. _____ Section 1. Section 321.276, subsection 5, Code 2017, 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 This bill eliminates the provision that prohibits a peace 6 officer from stopping or detaining a person solely for a 7 violation of Code section 321.276, which relates to texting 8 while driving. 9 The scheduled fine for a violation of Code section 321.276 10 remains $30. Under current law, the offense is not a moving 11 violation, and therefore cannot be considered for purposes 12 of administrative suspension of a driver’s license or for 13 establishing habitual offender status. However, if the 14 violation causes a serious injury, a court could impose an 15 additional fine of $500 or suspend the person’s driver’s 16 license for not more than 90 days, or both. If the violation 17 causes a death, a court could impose an additional fine of 18 $1,000 or suspend the person’s driver’s license for not more 19 than 180 days, or both. 20 -1- LSB 1535XC (1) 87 ns/nh 1/ 1